UniBond League First Division South - Saturday 6th March, 2010 - Att 220

Team: Jack Baker; Ross Lloyd, Brian Pritchard, Carl Ruffer, Danny Warner; Brad Maylett, Darren Jones, Ryan Broadhead, Peter Heler; Steve Brodie (Callum Tai-Hogan h/t) & Mike Moseley(Colin McAllister 45). Substitutes not used Aaron Grundy (g/k)

One quick glance at the team-sheet told you this match was going to sorely test Albion's resources and by the time the match finished, nigh on 5 o'clock, Wittoners' worst fears were well and truly realised. Carlton departed Wincham Park with the knowledge they had inflicted the season's heaviest defeat on Witton both home and away.

The tragic loss of Albion legend Mike Moseley on the stroke of half time, when he sustained a fracture to his right fibula, further deepened the gloom on what was already a forlorn afternoon. His side were already two goals down! A quarter of an hour from time Peter Heler then added to Witton's worsening disciplinary record when referee Ackers showed the midfielder an immediate red card. Millers' captain Grant Brindley leapt writhing into the air, although there appeared to have been very little contact!

Albion were chasing the game from the 12th minute. The lively Tristram Whitman skinned Ross Lloyd before providing the cross that was nodded on its way by Justin Jenkins at the near post for the waiting Anthony Griffith to convert with the easiest of headers. The visitors extended their lead in the 29th minute when a controversially awarded free-kick was met by the tall centre-back Brindley who squeezed his header between Jack Baker and the right post.

The injury to Mike Moseley occurred when he and opposing keeper Alessandro Barcherini went for a ball equidistant between them, with Moseley's lower leg being caught full force as the custodian charged in. It is impossible to judge whether the challenge contained any malice or was accidental, however referee Ackers somewhat bizarrely awarded a free-kick to the keeper before even checking on the striker's condition! The game was held up for six minutes as medical staff from both clubs attended, with the resultant ambulance summoned and arriving thankfully within minutes. Paramedics quickly diagnosed that Mike needed despatching to hospital.

The half-time interval saw Steve Brodie substituted, the Albion midfielder had struggled in vain to support Moseley whilst playing in an unsuitable role up front. His replacement Callum Tai-Hogan, also making a rare appearance, produced a great cross from the left flank. Brad Maylett shepherded the ball into the path of Ryan Broadhead, now sent to the front-line, but his shot was under hit and struck a defender. A driven attempt from Heler then went narrowly wide before Brian Pritchard lunged into the air but could not make proper contact when a crossed ball came over from the right.

Just when it looked Albion might get back into the game the visitors extended their lead with their first attack of the half. Twelve minutes into the second period the muscular Jenkins got the deftest of headers to a ball from the left directing it into the narrowest of gaps again twixt Baker and the right upright.

Broadhead again proved what a tremendous attitude he has to playing - wherever on the park. Having already gone close with a headed attempt from Lloyd's cross, he then slid a peach of a pass to Maylett putting him one on one with the keeper. The Witton midfielder opted to round the on rushing Barcherini, however he took the ball almost to the byline and had to check back, by which time a defender was back on the goal-line to thwart what should have been a goal!

This and Heler's dismissal shortly afterwards virtually ended any hope for the home team and it needed a couple of very good blocking saves from Baker as he denied Whitman and Jenkins to save Witton from a more embarrassing score-line. Carl Ruffer was booked for a reckless challenge two minutes from time which was quickly followed with a deliberate handball that the man in black failed to follow the letter of the law with. Then again maybe by now even he'd started to feel sorry for our plight.