Match Report -
FA Cup Draw Away At Witton
By Debbie Taylor

A deflected goal right at the death earned Witton a replay at Bower Fold on Tuesday night.

It was a dominant performance from Celtic, but lacked that final touch, that final ball that would have turned possession and pressure into goals. Right from the off, Celtic were pressing the home side, with Andy Owens and Danny Wisdom lacking the power with their early efforts to trouble Danny Roberts in the home net. A great ball in from Graham Kelly scraped the base of Owens's studs and Tames had got into a great position, but his ball lifted over Roberts went out at the far side.

The second half saw Witton come out with renewed vigour, but they rarely troubled Tony McMillan, with the defence holding firm. Bradley Bauress fired wildly over from a half cleared corner, but it was the other end where the action was. Andy Owens and Steve Tames had the goal at their mercy, a square ball to Tames was a tap in, but Owens went for the shot, and it was a good shot, requiring an excellent reaction save from Roberts.

A goal was coming and it was a wonder goal. Sustained pressure in the Witton box saw a half clearance to twenty-five yards where Aaron Chalmers was racing in, there was no pause just a clean strike that flew into the top corner of the net with Roberts left with no chance.

Celtic did press further, but couldn't get any clear cut openings, and as the game went into the last ten minutes, Witton went looking for the equaliser. Thomas Owens headed a lofted cross wide at the back post, before the goal came. With a dozen bodies in the Celtic box, trying to get the ball clear, the ball fell to Bradley Bauress who struk a decent shot, the ball taking a wicked deflection, leaving McMillan flying in the wrong direction and the ball in the back of the net.

Aaron Chippendale could have snatched it seconds before the end of normal time, but his cut inside and low effort was well stopped by Roberts forcing the replay.

1Roberts, Danny  
2Gardner, Anthony  
3Devine, Matthew  
4Wilson, Michael  
5Brown, AnthonyYellow Card 
6Williams, Paul  > 82
7Haywood, PrinceYellow Card 
8Reeves, William  
9Hopley, Rob  
10Owens, Thomas  
11Bauress, Bradley  
12Eves, Ronan  
14Arnold, Myles  
15Adigun, Danny  < 82
16Hickman, Ryan  
17Benjmin, Wesley  
18Garner, Dominic