Albion needed that!

While commitments in knockout competitions have left them playing catch-up, Witton had also lost three of their previous four matches in the Northern Premier League.

A trip to Silverlands, where hosts Buxton had lost only once in the Premier Division this season, wouldn’t have been top of a list of destinations to break that sequence.

They need not have worried.

While a 5-0 victory only lifts them one place in the table, there is reassurance – not to mention a huge boost to confidence – from delivering such a sparkling all-round performance.

There remains work to do, and they head to Gainsborough when they play next in the league, but they can do so in optimistic mood.

In praise of Will Jones

In the absence of Rob Hopley, ruled out by an injury sustained during last weekend’s FA Trophy success against AFC Rushden & Diamonds, he was asked to lead Albion’s attack.

After failing to score in any of his previous 13 league appearances this season, he was a picture of relief and happiness when he flicked in Matty Devine’s low cross to put Witton in front.

It was transformative, and the 28-year-old went on to deliver his best individual performance for the club.

His was a textbook display of how to play up front alone, both in terms of movement off the ball and hold-up play while on it, and Buxton defenders Tom Dean and Greg Young will have been mighty relieved when he was withdrawn with eight minutes left.

Handling a big man’s threat

Buxton handed a debut to front man James Dean following his arrival from Padiham, and made their attacking strategy clear from the outset.

The Bucks went long, and often, to the tall and powerful striker in the hope that a trio of support men – Liam Hardy, Bradley Grayson and Diego De Girolamo – would be first to the balls he flicked on or nudged their way.

Initially at least, it had an unsettling effect on River Humphreys and Josh Wardle who conceded too many free-kicks after confronting Dean physically.

Witton were much more effective when they focused on winning the second ball, which they did repeatedly.

Keeping a higher defensive line helped too; Dean wasn’t quick enough to get in behind them, and when he did win a header it was often too far from goal to cause them any concern.

Another opponent shut out

A seventh clean-sheet of the campaign in a Northern Premier League fixture means Carl Macauley’s men have now stopped an opponent from scoring in 50 per cent of their games.

Only two teams, leaders Scarborough Athletic and Warrington Town, have more shut-outs to their name.

However Witton have conceded fewer goals than the table-toppers, with Yellows the only rival able to say that they have a better defensive record.

A burgeoning partnership between River Humphreys and Josh Wardle is a primary reason, as is the assuredness of Greg Hall since his arrival from 1874 Northwich.

It is also undoubtedly true that on-loan Altrincham man Liam Goulding, outstanding in a midfield role in front of the back four on Saturday, has made Albion harder to beat.

Northwich Guardian:

Liam Goulding has already shown his versatility to Witton Albion's supporters during a loan stay from Cheshire neighbours Altrincham. Picture: Karl Brooks Photography

And what about the yoga…?

Albion’s players altered their usual routine on a Thursday and visited Hotpod Yoga on High Street in Northwich town centre.

That made them among the first to try a new venture that opened this weekend.

And what about next week, in the run-up to an FA Trophy third round qualifying encounter with Leamington?

“I’m going to be asked that a lot aren’t I?” said Carl Macauley.

“The lads loved it, I can tell you that much.”