Time to bounce back again, says boss (From Northwich Guardian)

Witton Albion manager Brian Pritchard has challenged his players to respond following Saturday's defeat

3:47pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer

WITTON boss Brian Pritchard has urged his team to remember how they reacted to their last league defeat when they face promotion hopefuls Marine tonight.

Albion’s 18-matches unbeaten run on the road, a sequence that started last November, ended at North Ferriby on Saturday – a second loss in the past three league matches.

Sandwiched between was an accomplished collective performance to win at AFC Fylde.

“I expect the players to react again,” he said.

“The message is unchanged; we need to be more consistent, particularly at home.

“I’m frustrated because the discipline in defence that had served us so well in midweek was missing at the weekend, leaving us with far too much to do.”

Trailing 2-0 at the interval, Witton did at least dominate the second half when substitute Steve Foster twice sent efforts against the woodwork and had a goal disallowed.

Pritchard hopes Albion take that momentum into tonight’s encounter.

He said: “I saw the Witton of old in the second half.

“The players should have learned by now that they can’t cheat at his level, mistakes will not go unpunished and it’s necessary to grind out a result against pretty much every opponent.”

He saved praise for Foster, who made his first appearance since returning to Northwich on loan from Chorley.

The 30-year-old hopes to have done enough to start against Marine, who themselves lost for the first time this term at the weekend when Worksop Town left Merseyside with maximum points.

“I was delighted with his contribution,” said Pritchard.

“For me, he was head and shoulders above anybody else on the pitch, bringing a freshness and enthusiasm to our play while trying to make things happen.

“I’ve told him to get on with the job of playing football, which is what he’s best at.”

The hosts hope to have Shaun Tuck and Jamie Harrison available again after they missed the weekend defeat, but Ben Harrison is struggling with a neck injury.

Marine may hand a first start to stopper Paul Jones, who has joined the club following his departure from Airbus.