THE WITTON ALBION COLUMN - By Paul Harper

AFTER two matches against the division’s top two sides last week had brought a return of three points, you may have expected a home match against the bottom of the table team to return another three, but it wasn’t to be.

At this stage of the season, teams generally know what they’re fighting for. While Albion are battling to try and get in the play-off positions, Stafford Rangers are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the league in an attempt to remain a Premier Division club for next season.

The visitors at Wincham Park last weekend showed plenty of fight and deserved their point from a 2-2 draw. Continue to play the way they did, they’ll certainly give themselves a chance of survival come the end of the season.

As for Albion, they can take plenty of positives into a month which sees us mainly on the road.

With the wind blowing a gale, the conditions were tricky for both sides. But both teams played some good stuff at times, with Albion working the ball nicely in midfield but perhaps lacked that killer pass in the final third to create one or two more chances.

The goals, both scored by Billy Smart, were excellent finishes. Billy has been excellent this season and has added goals to his all-action game which is pleasing to see.

His first strike saw a great touch to take the ball out of the air before a cool finish, while the second showed excellent technique to keep a volley down from the edge of the penalty area and find the bottom corner of the net.

There have been a number of spectacular goals from Witton players so far this season. The Goal of the Season category could be a tricky selection at the end of the campaign.

Away from the pitch and you will have seen that defender Adam Anson has earned a move to National League North side Southport for an undisclosed fee.

Adam has been fantastic at the heart of the Albion defence so far this season, so it’s unsurprising that he has attracted attention from higher up the pyramid.

He will stay at Wincham Park on loan until the end of the month before making his move to Haig Avenue, so we still have a few matches to enjoy him in a red and white shirt, but I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on the move and wish him well.

As I mentioned earlier in this piece, Albion are on the road a lot in February, and our next match is away at Ashton United where a certain Steven Tames currently resides.

Another difficult match, but one we’re looking forward to and hopefully we can keep our former striker quiet should he feature against us.

UTA!