UniBond Division One - March 22

Witton Albion 1

Dicken 84

Belper Town 1

McNamara 72

WITTON have now gone five games unbeaten in UniBond Division One but sadly only one of those games has carried three points.

This was Albion's fourth draw in five games, a series of results which have seen the team slip further away from the play-off places.

Despite having games in hand over many of their rivals Benny Phillips' side must now hope that other results go in their favour if they are to figure in the lucrative end of season knock out.

For long periods of this match Witton showed their true potential, pegging back Belper and creating a number of half chances, which on another day would have gone in.

That it was left to the outstanding Darrell Dicken to rescue a point in the 84th clouds what was in essence a good performance from Witton that should have yielded three points.

Belper spent most of the match camped in their own half and, aside from one moment of genius from Niall McNamara, never looked like troubling the Witton back four, let alone Paul Gibson between the posts.

As ever Mike Moseley proved to be one of the home side's most dangerous players, going close twice before the quarter of an hour mark - first latching on to a lovely ball from Carl Rendell and then controlling a long ball from Brad Sandeman before forcing a corner.

It was a measure of Witton's dominance through the first half that Belper only managed one shot on target in the whole of the first period and this was a tame effort from Mark Ward, which looped into Gibson's arms.

Witton continued to push for the first goal in the second half and went close on a number of occasions through Dicken, Moseley, Rendell and Steve Mallinson.

Belper's attacking threat had been completely nullified and their goal, on 72 minutes came after a mistake by Brian Pritchard.

The normally dependable centre back mis-controlled an easy pass and McNamara nipped in to steal possession and then beat two further defenders before steering the ball past Gibson.

Witton looked shell-shocked but responded with great style and immediately went looking for the equaliser.

Their efforts were rewarded after 84 minutes when Colin Rose won a tackle on the half-way line and fed the ball through to Moseley.

He beat two men and slid to the ball to the unmarked Dicken who fired past Gary Ingham in the Belper goal to restore parity.

Tempers frayed following the goal and before the restart Belper's Lee Stratford was sent off for foul and abusive language and will surely face further action after making gestures to the referee.

WITTON: Gibson, Sandeman, Furnival, Pritchard, Hughes, Rose, Mallinson (Burton 72), Foy, Moseley, Rendell, Dicken. Subs not used: Johnson, Cunningham. Attendance: 266.