CHRISTMAS has not been kind to Witton but Carl Macauley insists his side can be optimistic of turning around their fortunes on New Year’s Day.

They have suffered back-to-back defeats after play-offs hopefuls Warrington and Farsley Celtic both scored decisive goals at the end of close encounters at Wincham Park.

It means that some the momentum gathered from five matches without defeat before Boxing Day has been lost, leaving Albion in the table’s bottom-half.

“We must keep our heads up high,” said the manager.

“I don’t think we deserved to finish [the game against Farsley] empty-handed, although the last thing we should do is feel sorry for ourselves.

“It hurts to lose in the way we have, but we have to shake that feeling and continue to believe in ourselves.”

A demanding schedule continues this afternoon when Witton make a short trip to Nantwich Town, the Premier Division leaders.

The Dabbers enter a New Year four points clear at the Northern Premier League’s summit and unbeaten in their past eight matches – six of them wins.

They have been beaten only once at Weaver Stadium too.

However Albion have been increasingly resilient on their travels, losing only one of their past half-dozen games on the road.

Macauley said: “I want the lads to feel confident and have faith they can get something from matches like this one.

“It’s important not to be shy because we’ve gone toe-to-toe with these sides.

“We’ve not had that rub of the green that perhaps you need and on our part we’ve not had that bit of savvy to take control of situations at delicate moments.

“That’s something that we’re looking to add to our game.”

He hopes to have Danny McKenna available after the midfielder made a brief cameo as a substitute late on against Farsley.

There is optimism too that River Humphreys (illness) and Jordan Lussey (hand) will return.