Albion suffer narrow defeat at Radcliffe

Witton Albion fell to their first defeat in six matches as in-form Radcliffe secured a narrow 1-0 win at the Neuven Stadium.

It was an incident-packed game with the woodwork struck no fewer than five times as well as a red card for each side.

MJ Monaghan came into the starting XI in place of Liam Goulding who was named among the substitutes as the former Accrington Stanley man is nursing a knock.

Witton goalkeeper Chris Renshaw was called into action early on as Radcliffe looked threatening straight out of the blocks.

Anton Forrester worked himself an opportunity on the left edge of the penalty area but the Albion shot-stopper got down well to make an excellent save to deny him.

At the other end, Danny McKenna was played through on goal only for the Radcliffe goalkeeper to race quickly off his line to narrow the angle and make a good save.

The hosts had the ball in the net on 18 minutes when Tyrese Sinclair side-footed home a right-wing cross, but the Radcliffe winger was flagged offside.

Renshaw made another good save midway through the first half to deny a powerful effort from Kingsley Williams.

Chances were being created at both ends and Will Jones had a goalward effort well blocked after good play down the Albion right caused the Radcliffe defence problems.

Sinclair continued to look a threat for the hosts and he attempted an audacious lob from 30 yards which flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Witton came close to opening the scoring on 35 minutes as a ball forward was met by Monaghan who steered the ball against the foot of the post, with the rebound falling to an outstretched Kyle Sambor who couldn't control his effort and it went inches wide.

A few minutes later, it was Radcliffe's turn to rattle the frame of the goal as a spectacular overhead kick by the dangerous Sinclair was tipped onto the crossbar by Renshaw before the Albion defence scrambled the ball away.

Renshaw's woodwork was struck again just before half time as Forrester's powerful low effort bounced back out off the far post, with Elliot Rokka firing just wide from the rebound.

Despite a host of excellent opportunities, the teams went in at the break with the score goalless.

Monaghan was put clear on 53 minutes but excellent defending denied him as he was about to pull the trigger.

There was pinball in the Radcliffe area five minutes later, with the home defence struggling to clear, Jones fired towards goal only for an excellent block on the line.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men around the hour-mark as Billy Smart was given a straight red card for a challenge in midfield, with Radcliffe's Callum Grogan seeing red from a second yellow card in the melee which ensued.

Midway through the second half, the hosts struck the woodwork again as a powerful 25 yard effort rebounded off the far post before it was cleared away by the Witton rearguard.

A goal finally came on 69 minutes and it went the way of the home team. The ever-threatening Sinclair stepped up with a direct free kick from 25 yards which curled over the wall and into the bottom corner to leave Renshaw with little chance.

Renshaw made another good save to keep the score to just 1-0, while substitute Sam Billington fired over the bar, before a Witton onslaught for the final few minutes.

A right wing corner, from which Renshaw had come forward, was failed to be cleared by the home defence, before Jones' goalbound effort was blocked on the line before the goalkeeper gratefully collected the ball.

Jones had another effort, this time from the right edge of the area which the goalkeeper saved, before there was a further attack and shout for handball inside the Radcliffe area turned away by the referee.

There was still time for the hosts to hit the post once more from a counter attack in the final stages of stoppage time, before the referee called a close to an entertaining encounter.

Albion are back to home ground next weekend with Whitby Town the visitors to Wincham Park next Saturday, a chance for Carl Macauley's side to get back to winning ways.

Radcliffe: 1 Ollie Martin, 2 Tyrell Warren, 3 Scott Metcalfe, 4 Prince Haywood, 5 Callum Grogan, 6 Rick Smith, 7 Tyrese Sinclair, 8 Kingsley Williams, 9 Anton Forrester (Ben Wharton 71'), 10 Matthew Crothers (Sam Billington 80'), 11 Elliot Rokka (Matthew Wolfenden 77').
Subs: 12 Sam Billington, 14 Rhys Moseley, 15 Ben Wharton, 16 Matthew Wolfenden, 17 Danny Mitchley.

Witton Albion: 1 Chris Renshaw, 2 Cesaire Lingouba (Liam Goulding 54'), 3 Isaac Baldwin, 4 Josh Wardle, 5 Adam Anson, 6 MJ Monaghan (James Foley 63'), 7 Danny McKenna, 8 Billy Smart, 9 Will Jones, 10 Kyle Sambor (James Short 86'), 11 Tom Owens.
Subs: 12 James Short, 14 Liam Goulding, 15 James Foley, 16 Leo Roberts, 17 Ryan Neild.