Witton Albion ran rampant in the first half to ensure an emphatic 4-0 victory over promotion-chasers, Shaw Lane with goals from Matty Devine, Owen Dale, Steve Tames and Rob Hopley

The game started off with fire, fury and flurry as in the opening few minutes, Witton's Tom Owens ran through on goal getting hauled down by a Shaw Lane defender yet nothing was given by the referee. The weather took several turns for the worse before and after kick off resulting in a change of the matchball as the referee signalled for the use of a yellow ball in the 7th minute.

The first goal of the game came from Matty Devine on 19 minutes after some poor defending by a Ducks centre-back, the ball found it's way over to Devine and he ran through on goal knocking the ball past the goalkeeper. This goal not only broke the deadlock for The Albion but it was also Matty Devine's first ever goal in senior football.

Still fairly early on in the game, you had the feeling that The Albion players could smell blood with Shaw Lane defenders making several mistakes and being outnumbered at the back.

On the 32nd minute, a great ball displaying fantastic vision from James Foley found Owen Dale who ran past the goalkeeper and sneaking it just inside the near post with his weaker foot to double Albion's lead. This goal followed an effort by Rob Hopley which hit the bar only for the keeper to then tap the ball onto the post.

The Witton lads were still at it and limiting Shaw Lane's chances to the odd thwarted effort on the counter. Steve Tames made it 3-0 when his left-footed effort somehow made it's way into the goal just before half-time. It wasn't exactly sweetly struck but a goal is a goal!

The Albion looked to stop any momentum building from Shaw Lane at the beginning of the second half as Rob Hopley made it four when the ball dropped to him from roughly 10 yards out and his effort was perfectly poked into the keeper's right hand post.

With Albion being four goals up, Carl Macauley could probably feel that he could drop the intensity going forward whilst still keeping control of the game. The late domination from Witton left Calvin Hare's gloves completely unscathed from any Shaw Lane chances that they may create. It was very difficult to pick out a man of the match today after what was a complete performance from our lads with great game management from Carl and Gary.

The match eventually finished and so did the snow leaving a wide smile on many Wittoners within the terraces. Witton Albion's next game is on Tuesday when we host Stourbridge after the game was postponed on the 10th February. We all look forward to seeing you down there backing the lads.

#UTA