10-man Albion fall to derby defeat at Nantwich

It was a day to forget for Witton Albion as they fell to a 3-0 defeat against local rivals Nantwich Town on a hot and sunny Bank Holiday Monday.

Albion were reduced to 10 men after two yellow cards for substitute Ryan O'Hare in the second half, but the game was already lost at that stage.

James Murray came into the starting XI in place of the injured Tom Owens in the only change from the 1-0 victory over Mickleover Sports. Recent signing Callum Hassan came into the squad among the substitutes.

Albion began the game reasonably well. A dangerous cross from the right by Cesaire Lingouba was inches too high for Will Jones who couldn't control his effort as it glanced the top of his head.

Murray then had an effort on goal but it lacked enough power to trouble the goalkeeper.

But after a promising opening 10 minutes, it was the hosts who opened the scoring. A high cross from the right was nodded back across the face of goal and Joe Mwasile was on hand to steer the ball home from close range.

Nantwich visibly grew in confidence following the goal and an excellent challenge by Adam Anson denied them an opportunity to double their lead minutes later.

Having already shown a number of different set piece routines, a clever one midway through the first half resulted in Sean Cooke firing over the bar from 18 yards as the home team were well on top.

Chris Renshaw denied Joe Malkin with a smart save on 32 minutes, but the Witton number one was beaten soon after as Cooke curled a free-kick over the wall and past the shot-stopper for Nantwich's second of the game.

James Lawrie and Cooke both had efforts off target as the half drew to its close before the referee halted proceedings.

After a slight delay for repairs to be made on the netting in one goal, and an Albion change with Ryan O'Hare coming on for his debut to replace Murray, the second half got underway.

A neat passing move from the hosts resulted in full-back Casper Hughes firing over the crossbar from 20 yards.

Witton's best chance of the game came on 58 minutes when a left wing free-kick was headed goalwards but cleared off the line before Nantwich scrambled the ball clear.

The Dabbers further increased their lead on 62 minutes when a deep cross from the right found Mwasile at the back post and the former Morecambe man fired home from an acute angle.

A good save by Renshaw denied Lawrie, before bad turned to worse as Albion were reduced to 10 men. O'Hare picked up a second yellow card in quick succession to be sent for an early bath with 20 minutes remaining.

Callum Hassan came on for his second Witton debut with quarter of an hour left with Kyle Hawley withdrawn while NPL Academy graduate Stefan Sorensen made his senior bow to replace Cesaire Lingouba in the closing stages as Albion fell to derby day defeat.

Witton Albion: Renshaw; Lingouba (Sorensen 86'), Anson, Wardle, Short; McKenna, Smart, Goulding, Murray (O'Hare 46'); Hawley (Hassan 76'), Jones.
Sub not used: Neild.