Report

Warton Slip Out of the Top Two after a Draw at the Bank

Sunday 30th October: BAE Warton FC 1 (1) vs. 1 (0) Albrighton

Venue: Bank Lane

An autumnal welcome to Bank Lane this week for Albrighton, a BAE bogey team from last season. At kickoff 7 points separated the sides in Warton's favour, but Albrighton are a good side who can beat anyone on their day. 

BAE: Hall, Flache, Partington, Hammill, Moran, Mills, Smith, Wivell, James, Iacovelli, J Wilson. Subs: Austin, P. Wilson, Slater

There was nearly a capacity crowd at Bank Lane, with both sides bringing at least five spectators each. Perhaps this was the reason for the nervous start, neither side seeming willing to show their hand first. As the half progressed BAE started to look more comfortable and began to play better football. Eventually the pressure culminated in a goal for Jay Wilson. Iacovelli fed a mouth watering pass through the defence and right into the path of Wilson who finished well into the bottom corner. 1-0, and that's how it remained to half time.

Austin replaced Flache at the break and came on at LB moving the other Pete to the right hand side. Albrighton lifted their game for the second half and BAE started to look tired. It was as though half the team had been to a party the night before. Despite this, the defence held strong for the most part and looked good value for a first clean sheet of the campaign. However it wasn't to be. Albrighton equalised through a scrappy goal mouth scramble but had deserved a goal for their efforts. With the scores level Warton started to play football again, perhaps worried about conceding their unbeaten home record. With just a few minutes to run Slater could have won it. Having come on upfront for the injured Mark Hammill, he was unlucky to see his lobbed attempt fall just the wrong side of the bar. Full Time 1-1

A draw was probably the right result this week. On one hand we showed how much of a better side we are this year by grinding out a point without playing too well. On the other hand we didn't perform to the level we have reached in previous weeks and could have been punished on several occasions. Well done to Jay for a well taken goal which has been coming for the last few games. Good luck for Sunday as I am not playing, but I will see you all on Wednesday.

Okay, slight disagreement with Ash as I think Albrighton were the better side in both halves. But for some woeful finishing by their striker and some good saves by Bob we would have been well beaten.  Having said that, we played the better football and looked threatening, so the goal was no surprise but Jay's finish certainly was; first chance he had he put away, shame he didn't get more chances.  So basically what little possession we had we looked good but we we didn't have too much possibly because we were too direct and because we failed to support the player with the ball which may have been a consequence of the night before.  I can only assume Bob wasn't there as he gets man of the match.