WITTON regained top spot in the UniBond League on Saturday thanks to the most timely of goals.

A draw beckoned as the game passed into injury time and centre back Tom Marshall had just been named man of the match.

But then, dramatically, Adam Warlow's swiftness left the defender on his backside and he slipped the ball to Mark Peers who neatly rounded goalkeeper Ryan Young and slotted home as two panic stricken defenders scurried to try and retrieve the situation.

Witton celebrated euphorically, on and off the pitch.

Boss Jim Vince, all smiles at the end, had managed the serious business of tactics perfectly, naming all his big defenders to contain the Pitmen's equally burly attackers.

Rob Lloyd (back) was the latest player to be sidelined, joining Steve Connors and Griff Jones on the injury list. However, his replacement Ross Clegg had

one of his best ever games for the Albion as he constantly harassed and chased.

It was from a Clegg pass that Albion's first telling attack in the 12th minute saw Mike Moseley just unable to control the ball.

With both teams wary of each other it wasn't until the 27th minute that Albion next produced a telling move that really should have broken the deadlock.

Alex Brown burst through and released Peers on the right. He drove towards the by-line before pulling the ball perfectly back to Warlow but the striker hit the right upright and when Brown latched onto the rebound Ryan Young was in position to save the low shot.

Clegg then saw his own effort just clear the crossbar. Just before the break it was Moseley's turn to squander an opportunity when he completely mistimed his attempt with the goal at his mercy.

In the 53rd minute Peers escaped the pack of defenders to smack the ball a whisker past the post. At the other end Jon Kennedy dealt with an aerial bombardment and took a couple of hefty illegal challenges in his stride.

Suddenly Daniel Bacon had slipped away down the right to produce a great ball aimed for Jon Douglas in space at the far post, however Kennedy managed to deflect the ball away from the target.

With 15 minutes left a great move involving Tom Spearritt, Peers and Liam Brownhill saw the latter's cross beat Young only to be hacked away by Ross Adams. Warlow produced a dipping shot just over the bar and Kennedy saved instinctively from Bacon.

A draw would not have been fatal, but Peers brought the title back to life.

WITTON: Kennedy; Kearney, Pritchard, Barras, Spearritt; Brownhill (Frost 79), Clegg, Brown, Peers; Warlow, Moseley (Farquarson 73).

Att: 613

Star Man: Tony Barras

Next Best: Ross Clegg Team

Rating: 4

Match Rating: 3