Cooper feels for opposite number (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion goalkeeper Matt Cooper says he felt sorry for Bamber Bridge counterpart on Saturday

9:30am Wednesday 14th March 2012 in News Exclusive By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

GOALKEEPER Matt Cooper admits he felt sorry for his opposite number during Witton’s six-goals thrashing of Bamber Bridge on Saturday.

Albion’s number one watched on from the other end of the field as the rampant visitors scored half a dozen times in a match for the third time this term.

Brig custodian Lee Dovey kept down the score too.

“I felt for him,” said Cooper.

“He was picked as the Man of the Match, and deservedly so after saving two penalties on top of all the other times he stopped us from scoring.

“While I’ll always enjoy a Witton win, as a fellow goalkeeper I know how he must have been feeling after playing so well yet still being a team that’s had a hiding.

“It happens to all of us at some point though.”

Not to be outdone, Witton’s custodian saved former Albion teammate Danny Mahoney’s spot kick in the second half of the same game.

It marked a tenth time this term that the 23-year-old has kept a clean sheet in a Division One North encounter.

He said: “I was pretty happy with that.

“It’s always annoying when you concede a goal in a game that otherwise you’ve dominated.

“That happened last month against Curzon Ashton [Witton were 3-0 up when their promotion rivals scored a stoppage time consolation] and I was determined to avoid history repeating itself.”

Witton’s win moved them to within five points of the table’s summit on Saturday night, although Curzon Ashton’s 3-1 win against Bamber Bridge on Monday made wider that gap.

Brian Pritchard’s men, who travel to Ossett Town this weekend, have a game in hand though. WC: 275.

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Pick up this week’s Northwich Guardian, on sale from Wednesday, for more from Matt Cooper on Witton Albion’s push for promotion.