Home discomfort for Albion

Kieran Charnock’s late goal means that Witton have won only two of the eight Northern Premier League fixtures they’ve played at Wincham Park this season.

Half of those matches have ended level, including this one.

That isn’t a cause for concern, not yet at least, but there will be some frustration that Albion haven’t collected maximum points from matches in which they have been superior.

That was certainly the case against Hyde, perhaps Marine too, while they took the lead in meetings with Stalybridge and Bamber Bridge only to take a single point from both.

Coping with disruption

Carl Macauley made four changes to a side that had started at Gainsborough seven days earlier, all of them enforced.

One of those, switching Will Booth for leading goal-scorer James Foley, was made in the moments before kick-off after the latter succumbed to an ankle injury sustained the previous week.

Chris Noone made his first start of the season in a Premier Division fixture, while it was a third for Booth.

Michael Wilson had played from the first minute only once previously, and that was at Stafford back in September.

With Cesaire (groin) and Will Jones (neck) ruled out by an injury and Matty Devine unavailable, Witton could name only two fit outfield substitutes.

And one of those, Delial Brewster, lasted only 16 minutes before he too suffered a knock that ended his involvement.

“It’s tough when you have four key players missing,” said Macauley.

An able spot-kick deputy

Michael Wilson dispatched with confidence a penalty awarded to Witton to restore parity at 1-1.

He had done the same during a shoot-out against Winsford in a Mid-Cheshire District FA Senior Cup tie in midweek and also in a similar scenario when Albion succumbed to Mickleover in an Integro League Cup encounter last term.

With Foley not on the field, it was a relief to have somebody they could rely on.

“Michael took responsibility and deserves a pat on the back for doing so,” said Macauley.

“He put up his hand and showed composure at an important moment in the game because we were behind.”

First goal wins (well, almost)

Curiously, Witton have yet to win a league game this season when they have fallen behind.

It has happened on seven occasions, and this is only the second time they have avoided defeat (the other was when Hyde United visited Wincham Park back in August).

Carl Macauley admitted afterwards that it is a concern his side are not converting chances they create when on top.

Brig goalkeeper Danny Roccia made a string of saves in the first-half, most noticeably to deny Anthony Gardner and Will Booth, and it proved costly.

“When you’re at full pelt and creating chances or getting in good positions, it’s important to try and put one of them away and make the opposition chase the game,” said the Albion boss afterwards.

Reasons to be cheerful

There is a context of steady improvement that is encouraging.

Witton have lost just one of their past five Premier Division matches, and if they avoid defeat at Marine next weekend an unbeaten run will be their longest this season.

Chronologically, only Leamington – a higher-ranked opponent – have beaten them in the past half-dozen games in all competitions (it was 2-2 after 90 minutes against Winsford).

Performances have been promising too in that sequence, including in the first-half on Saturday, although they were less of a threat after the interval.

Even then they still showed plenty of character to recover from the blow of falling behind when Alistair Waddecar curled a free-kick into the top corner.