Fortress Wincham remains intact

Witton’s biggest league win of the campaign preserved with it an unbeaten record in front of their own supporters.

They have played 11 matches in all competitions this season in Northwich, winning nine of them.

Only Stalybridge, in an FA Cup second qualifying round tie, and Stocksbridge Park Steels have returned home without being beaten.

It is to state the obvious that a strong record as hosts is important if they are to realise their objective of returning to the Northern Premier League’s top flight.

However in the past three seasons they have lost 28 of 61 league fixtures on home turf – that’s 42 per cent, and far too many.

Albion give the impression they are a side comfortable in their own surroundings this term, and can point to victories in knockout ties against higher-ranked Buxton and Kettering as proof.

In praise of the defence

It may seem paradoxical to talk about defending following a 5-0 win, but a sixth shut-out of the campaign in Division One South is worthy of comment.

Only two teams – leaders Shaw Lane and Belper – have kept more clean sheets.

The table-toppers, by a single strike, have the section’s stingiest back-line with 11 goals against.

Witton have let in 12.

Manager Carl Macauley was boosted this weekend too by the return of Anthony Brown following a six-week lay-off with a knee injury.

With Paul Williams absent for the same reason, it is a timely comeback.

The former Burscough man’s physical strength, and leadership, feels even more important with captain Anthony Gardner nursing a knock too.

Is there an injury curse?

Probably not, but Macauley was visibly upset after watching striker Steven Tames leave the field on a stretcher with two minutes left of Saturday’s contest.

It is likely he will join Gardner and Williams on the side-lines for a midweek meeting with Boston in the FA Trophy’s third qualifying round.

“Have we crossed paths with a black cat?” mused first-team coach Paul Moore afterwards.

“It’s tarnished the result for us, and that’s a shame after performing the way we have.

“It feels as if when we get an injury, lads are out for weeks at a time and that’s frustrating.”

Brown was missing for six weeks, as mentioned above, while front man Cameron Dalton’s campaign was cut short on the opening day when he suffered a serious leg break during a 3-1 win at Stamford.

Prince Haywood can play in any position

Brad Bauress, rightly, was judged to be Witton’s outstanding performer against Romulus.

The midfielder scored twice, both times from the penalty spot, and provided an assist for two other goals.

However another player again caught the eye, not least for demonstrating his considerable versatility.

Prince Haywood started last weekend’s aborted FA Trophy encounter with Boston as a full-back in the absence of Gardner, moving backwards from his regular starting position on the right of midfield.

The 24-year-old gave probably his most impressive performance of the campaign in front of the back four during an comprehensive FA Cup success against Buxton in September.

He returned there yesterday, filling in for Paul Williams, and was integral to the home side’s success by recovering possession and starting attacks.

Next up, Boston

The Pilgrims, now with Martyn Bunce in temporary charge following Dennis Greene’s departure as manager, needed a late Nat Brown goal to avoid defeat at struggling Stalybridge Celtic yesterday afternoon.

It means they have won only one of their past nine games in all competitions.

However they did get a glimpse of what Witton are capable of during the first half of an abandoned meeting last week, when they trailed to Rob Hopley’s goal by the break.

That will help prepare them this time around.

Macauley will need to come up with a solution for Tames’ absence and, while youngster Tolani Omotola may seem an obvious stand-in, he may decide to bolster his midfield and play with Karl Noon in support of Hopley in attack.