CARL Macauley took as much satisfaction as he could from a performance that he felt deserved more than a draw.
His frustration was fleeting though.
Hyde United were difficult opponents, and it required persistence to punch a hole in the visitors’ dogged defence when River Humphreys levelled for Witton Albion. He redirected James Foley’s free-kick into the net with enough force to thread it through a crowded six-yard box, and with it cancel out John McCombe’s opener. (Karl Brooks Photography on hand to capture the celebrations)
That was scored in similar circumstances, the Tigers’ man stabbing a loose ball beyond goalkeeper Greg Hall after a corner dropped kindly.
It says much that two back-markers were on target, and both from set-pieces, in a contest that was close throughout. However the hosts’ display after they fell behind gives plenty of cause for optimism.
They recovered too from the blow of missing a penalty in the moments after McCombe’s goal, Foley’s spot-kick rattling the underside of the crossbar after Tom Pratt had scythed down Matty Devine.
After a pause to rouse themselves, they had the better of the final half-hour. Cesaire Lingouba and Tom Owens traded delicate touches to send the latter clear, but Hyde custodian Peter Crook dashed from his line to smother his shot.
Humphreys’ goal was a spur to continue pressing, and the visitors’ number one again denied Owens after James Yates’ cross located the midfielder at the back-post.
Witton went closest from probably their most impressive move. Hall, after claiming a dangerous free-kick, didn’t hesitate to launch a counter with a perfectly-weighed kick towards Owens. He rolled a pass into Foley’s path, and the midfielder’s curling shot hit the woodwork with Crook joining the crowd at Wincham Park in admiring its trajectory.
There was little to choose between the teams in the opening period too, although Albion created more. Josh Wardle was denied a first goal in Witton’s colours when his header from Foley’s corner was smuggled off the line by a defender who contorted his body to diver the ball with a shoulder.
Crook was vigilant too when Rob Hopley’s clipped attempt prompted him to claw the ball from out of the top corner while falling backwards.
In this first league encounter since the 2004/05 campaign, Hyde rarely threatened in attack, and most of their attention was on restricting Albion. However a return of four points from their first two games, following a 1-0 win against Basford on Saturday, is proof of a fine week’s work.
“I’m gutted that we haven’t won that game,” admitted Macauley afterwards. “However it’s a positive point, and I have only praise for my players’ performance.”
Witton | 4-3-1-2 | Hall (GK), Yates, Humphreys, Wardle, Devine, Smart, Cesaire, Foley, Owens, Hopley & Will Jones. Subs not used: Gardner, Wilson, McKenna, Noone & Brewster Goal Humphreys 71 Booked: Yates, Cesaire (both fouls), Jones (dissent).
Hyde | 4-4-2 | Crook (GK), Harrison, McCombe, Fagbola, Brownhill, Pratt, Daly, Lipka, Porritt (Boyle 79), Rothery (Karl Jones 59) & Chilaka (Brown 81). Subs not used: Quansah & Hughes Goal McCombe 48 Booked: Lipka, Pratt (both fouls), Boyle, Brown (both dissent), Daly.
Referee Darren Rogers Attendance 360

Match Photos Taken by KARL BROOKS PHOTOGRAPHY