JON Macken paid tribute to his Witton Albion side’s response to seeing their two-goal lead wiped out during Monday’s win over Runcorn Linnets.
Having taken an early 2-0 lead, Albion were pegged back to 2-2 at the U Lock It Stadium to bring the game back into the balance just after half-time.
Just two minutes after the visitors’ equaliser, however, Joe Duckworth struck his second goal to put Witton back in front before Connor Hughes’ late strike secured a 4-2 win.
The result stretches Witton’s unbeaten league run to seven games and Macken was quick to heap praise upon his players.
“I thought it was a great game of football for the spectators – really entertaining,” he said.
“They’re a good side and they are where they are in the league for a reason, but I thought we played well.
“We go 2-0 and if we get the next goal, it probably finishes it but they get it and got a bit of momentum.
“I said at half time that we could push on a little bit more and be more aggressive. We conceded early on but fair play to the lads, they responded massively after that.
“Massive credit to the lads – it’s been a tough week with a lot of illness around but there were some fantastic performances out there.”
The result lifted Albion to ninth in the Northern Premier League West Division table as they continue to rebuild after a stuttering start under Macken.
Their campaign is now just beyond the halfway mark and the play-off places are six points away.
“It was never going to be easy and I think everybody acknowledged as much after bringing a new squad in, which we had to do,” Macken said, assessing his first 20 league games in charge.
“We had to gel and get to know each other and I think they did, but we had to work on those results and performances.
“The belief among the lads is up there now and the performance levels are still there.”
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