Albion bottom after basement battle surrender

FOR the first time in 11 years Albion sit bottom of the UniBond Premier after their most recent defeat, this time a 4-2 capitulation at the hands at previous basement boys Ossett Town.

The manner of Albion’s second-half surrender will have made painful viewing for the travelling Wittoners who made up half of the 190-strong crowd at Ingfield.

If returning boss Gary Finley and his assistant Lee Coathup were under any illusions about the size of their task, then Saturday’s defeat was the perfect example of why Witton find themselves staring up at the rest of the league.

Conversely Albion started the stronger of the two sides and new signings Jamie Olsen (from Burscough) and Mark Smyth (from Leigh Genesis) looked promising.

On 19 minutes Albion took the lead when Olsen’s perfect free kick was powerfully headed home by Lee Thompson. Then just after the half-hour mark, the men in red and white were 2-0 up after Scott found debutant Smyth who made no mistake.

The visitors were in rampant mood and could have gone further ahead through Rod Thornley.

But what should have been a formality in taking the points, Albion shot themselves in the foot after a long kick from Ossett keeper Lamb was not dealt with leaving Aiden Savory the chance to fire a sweet finish past Greg Smith two minutes before the break.

It was a lifeline Town clung onto and all the confidence of Witton’s first-half display evaporated when the hosts drew level through Rob O’Brien who beat Smith to Ross Thaker’s weak back-pass.

And the demise was complete when Andy Lee fired a double to condemn Witton to their tenth straight league defeat.

Finley said: “We bossed the game early on, we looked organised and we looked good going forward but unfortunately we handed them a lifeline after a defensive error just before half-time.

“They scored again early in the second half and we have never really recovered from it to be honest.”

Witton: G Smith, Scott (Schwarz 55), Pritchard, Brockley, Donnelly, Thaker (Skelton 63), Olsen, Drew (Willis 77), Smyth, Thompson, R Thornley.

Attendance: 190.