FC United slip to narrow defeat against Witton Albion

FC United slipped to a 1-0 defeat against promotion rivals Witton Albion at Gigg Lane on Saturday afternoon, but remain in the play-off places with seven games to go.

On the day of the Grand National, FC United weren’t at the races and struggled to get through a tough and determined Witton Albion, who leapfrogged the reds with the victory.

After the usual feeling out process of the first fifteen minutes, the visitors started to get a foothold in the game and really pressured United in everything they did and were often the better team in the middle of the park.

Although the Reds never got a real clear cut chance in the first half there was an opportunity of note for Tom Greaves who got the ball stuck under his feet and Mike Norton also called the visiting ‘keeper into action, but even half chances were few and far between.

Witton themselves had a few chances in the first half, going close to beating Jon Worsnop on a few occasions and just after the 25 minute mark Shaun Tuck made United pay for several errors at the back and gave Witton the lead.

As the game drew on, United were giving away silly fouls in the middle of the park and signs of frustration were showing on the pitch and in the stands, as the visiting side implemented their game plan with a view to taking something away from the game.

Oliver Banks impressed on his home debut on Monday and carried on in the same fashion this afternoon, looking to be the key component for United and the likeliest to make anything happen, an example of this was when he fired just over early in the second half.

But the game was being stifled in the middle of the park by some good work from the Witton players and all too often anything over the top was seeing the flag raised as they held the back line well.

United had their best opportunity from a corner with twenty minutes left as a Lee Neville header hit the post before being cleared, this being the closest United came to troubling the scoreboard.

Margy did go for changes, looking to grab something from the game bringing on Roca, Wright and Daniels, but the frustration carried on as United found the visiting defence impossible to break.

Some consolation for the reds was that Hednesford, Fylde and Rushall all dropped points, so United get back on the horse on Tuesday as they welcome Kendal to Gigg Lane, looking to get over the finish line in a play-off place for the third consecutive season.

Man of the match: Oliver Banks – had a good game again, looked the most dangerous man in Red and could prove a vital signing in the end of season run in.

For the latest podcast, including a review of the match and interviews with Karl and Board member Alison Watt, click here