Stalemate at Scarborough

For the second time in two weeks Albion were up on the windswept North Yorkshire coast and again resolute defending saw them make the long journey home with a well earned point.

Carl Macauley just made the one change, James Foley and Tom Owens still not fully recovered whilst of course Rob Hopley will be a long time absentee, this affording 19 year old Jack Byrne his full debut. The dual registration AFC Fylde man taking the right back berth with Cesaire Lingouba back in his more comfortable midfield role at the expense of James Murray.

With the wind in their faces Witton were pegged back in their half for long periods during the opening 45 minutes. James Walshaw had fired wide and home skipper Michael Coulson saw his shot blocked in the Seadogs best earliest attempts.

On 18 minutes Albion managed to produce their first genuine attacking move with a one-two between Will Jones and Morecambe loanee Kyle Hawley seeing the former drive his shot wide of the left upright.

The post at the other end came to Albion’s rescue seven minutes later as Paul Walker’s bouncing effort almost succeeded. All hell broke loose on the half-hour mark when just in front of the dug-outs Kian Spence fouled Danny McKenna, virtually half the players together with both benches got involved but the only aftermath was the home player cautioned.

Chris Renshaw ten minutes before the break produced a great block to deny Walshaw before an even more impressive save five minute later saw him back-peddle, after a corner kick had only been partially cleared by the custodian, to brilliantly catch the ball under the crossbar. Centre-back Harry Coates’s flicked attempt then struck the bar thus ensuing the teams went in level at the interval.

As well as not facing the wind a change in formation saw Albion more productive and defensively sounder through the second period. Liam Goulding became a third central defender whilst Murray replaced Hawley to make the 5-4-1 formation.

Jones seized the opportunity to let fly from the wide right only to see the ball strike the back of the side netting. The striker was then carded five minutes later for bundling Walker to the ground.

Midway through the half following a James Short cross McKenna had the initial goal-bound shot blocked by Coates with Jack Johnson denying Jones’s follow up at the left post at the expense of a rare away team corner that saw Short’s driven shot headed away.

Home keeper Thomas Taylor was then injured following another corner when after claiming the ball well with Josh Wardle in close attention he went down onto the plastic surface clutching his mouth. The Albion skipper was booked whist after four minutes of treatment Taylor continued heavily bandaged around his face producing an impression of a “Mexican bandido!”

The home team who like Witton were struggling to score this season then resorted to a few attempts to get a penalty awarded, Walshaw in particular lucky to escape a caution from referee Goodwin.

As it was, although they would have been fortunate, Albion should have seized all the points. Three minutes into the six stoppage time minutes a lovely break from defence by Wardle released Murray on the left and spotting McKenna racing through the middle he crossed but Witton’s only scorer of the campaign failed to make it three, by looking to put the ball on his favoured foot and allowing enough time for substitute Will Annan to get to him and snuff out any worthwhile shot.

TEAMS:
BORO: Taylor; Johnson, Lowe, Watson, Coates, Assenso, Dawson, Spence (Lofts 71). Walshaw, Coulson (Brooksby 83), Walker (Annan 80). Subs not used Davidson & Merris.
ALBION: Renshaw; Byrne, Short, Wardle, Anson, Goulding, McKenna, Smart, Hawley (Murray h/t), Jones & Lingouba. Subs not used: Sorensen, O’Hare, Hassan & Neild.