Galacticos were again at home and welcomed Old Bramstonians to Stephens Road. Witham boasted 3 new signings in Foltys, Ahern and Martin. They also welcomed back Whipps from suspension but were sadly missing the injured Adams even though he was there to support from the sidelines alongside our long term injured turnt kit man/scout etc etc Jack Stoneham.
Witham started most lively and forced a couple of early corners with Clark coming close but his volley went into the side netting. Top goalscorer Yeo had an early site of goal but his shot went wide and minutes later after beating the full back he pulled the ball back from the byline to Panting whose shot was well saved at the near post. Witham had a scare after 15 minutes when Clark and Murphy got tangled and the oppositions midfielder drove at goal but he shot early and put the ball wide wasting a glorious chance. 21 minutes in and the deadlock was broken, Murphy won a free kick outside the box after a push in the back. Yeo 20 yards out gave the keeper the eyes to bend it round the wall but cleverly struck the ball over the top of the wall to the keepers right and completely wrong footed him. A minute later Stoneham picked the ball up wide left just inside his own half and found Pantings run in behind the back four, Panting used his strength and pace to get infront of his man and from 12 yards neatly found the bottom left hand corner. Witham now had complete control but wasted some good chances to extend there lead and some final balls were overhit slightly. Whipps was getting forward at every opportunity down the left from his full back position and after 38 minutes he won a penalty after working his way into the box. Captain Yeo stepped up and as ever converted to put Witham 3 up deservedly. On the stroke of half time Lawes was picked out and went one on one with the keeper but his shot from 8 yards went over the bar.
HALF TIME WITHAM GALACTICOS 3 OLD BRAMSTONIANS 0
The visitors come out in the second half and started brightly eager to find a way back into the game but the back four with the support of Vicarage and Humphry broke up everything that was thrown at them. Orr and Ahern were then introduced on 55 mins and immediately Ahern showed his pace down the right winning a corner. The resulting corner was delivered well by Panting but agonisingly hit Yeo 3 yards out and fell safely into the keepers arms. Stoneham who again was having an impressive game found Lawes out wide whose delivery fell kindly to Orr who made a late run into the box but his shot just went passed the post. Jackson was next to miss a good chance to put the game to bed but his header went just over the bar. Eventually Witham got there fourth and it was Orr who got his 3rd of the season when Yeo unselfishly squared the ball to him to tap home from 3 yards. The boss then brought on his remaining 2 new signings Lewis-Martin coming into the middle and Foltys wide right. Both were involved in the remaining minutes with Martin making some vital interceptions and challenges to protect our clean sheet and Foltys finding himself well placed twice but for poor finishing he would have had a brace on his debut.
FINAL TIME WITHAM GALACTICOS 4 OLD BRAMSTONIANS 0
Another good performance and very pleasing to get a clean sheet. Only 2 goals conceded in the last 3 games and 17 scored is good reading. That shows the real balance in the team in both going forward and defensively. Todays game we never looked under any threat and thats credit to the team working well centrally and a strong showing from the back four who gave Cannock nothing to do all game. Attacking wise we look sharp and threatening all the time and be it for some lacklustre finishing we could have easily got double figures today. Man of the match goes to Whipps who put in a superb performance from left back with some superb strong tackles and a constant threat going forward. Also Stoneham and Clark have had good performances the last couple of weeks and deserve a mention....oh and yes Vicarage did win another header!
Big game next week to local rivals Valley lets cement that spot at the top of the league : )
