Witton Albion 0

Congleton Town 0

UniBond Division One

Monday, April 16

EDDIE Bishop rallied his troops for their first game since Nigel Gleghorn's departure, but they still couldn't find that elusive attacking spark.

An Easter Monday derby at home to UniBond League's bottom club would seemingly be the ideal fixture to lift the spirits, but games like this also need moments of excitement, and here there were few.

One came as early as the seventh minute when Dean Greygoose, in the spectacular style he has become accustomed to, tipped over a long range drive by former Witton and Winsford player John Brown.

Witton's first sight of goal came when David Anane was kept out by a combination of goalkeeper Kevin Taylor and Northwich Vics reserve Nick Boothby.

However, Anane was central to the incident which could have turned the game Witton's way as he wrong-footed Paul Bowyer and was tripped as he went round him.

However, the referee ruled that Anane ran into the grounded defender and, to the home supporters' amazement, no penalty was given.

Shots by Charlie Boyd and Paul Hennin fizzed across the face of goal and Danny Graystone also went close before the break, while Greygoose had to make another fingertip save from Darren Talks.

Brian Pritchard then headed Boyd's free-kick wide before Albion fans made it clear who their choice would be to succeed Gleghorn in the manager's chair.

Bishop brought himself on in the 72nd minute and with him came the biggest cheer of the afternoon. It could have soared to a crescendo when Graystone's header fell to him in the box, but his effort cleared the crossbar.

Then Bishop produced a typical moment of improvisation when, lying on the floor, he somehow managed to head the ball into the path of Hennin, but once again the final result was a shot too high to trouble Taylor.

To their credit, Witton always looked like they wanted to win this game despite the downbeat mood and kept pressing to the end, Taylor having to claw away a dangerous Matt Garner cross with Hennin and Melford Knight racing in.

Witton: Greygoose, Anderson (Knight 65), Garner, Pritchard, Morgan, Graystone, Staley, Boyd, Simms (Bishop 72), Anane, Hennin. Not used: Fairweather. Attendance: 1321. Man of the Match: Matt Garner.