Match Report:
WarminsterTown 1(0) Bitton AFC 1(0)
Attendance 148
Warminster Town earned a valuable point against high flying Bitton AFC after an attritional contest on a very heavy pitch that cut up badly.
The visitors had the better of the first half. In the 18th minute a long throw from the left almost caught Warminster napping but the Bitton striker turned the ball just the wrong side of the near post. Nine minutes later another Bitton long throw was only half cleared and a great first time shot forced Town keeper Callum Hotine into a fine diving save. A minute before the break a Bitton free kick from wide right was flicked on into the danger area but was headed clear at the back post.
After the break Town upped their game and just two minutes into the second half they took the lead. Jack Newman fired the ball into the area and a Bitton defender’s clearance struck his hand and the referee pointed to the spot. Corey Gardner took the spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way, 1-0 Town. In the 52nd minute a Jack Newman cross, or maybe a shot, had the Bitton keeper scrambling backwards but the ball dipped just over the bar. On 56 minutes a dangerous cross from the left couldn’t be caught by Callum Hotine but Bitton were unable to fire in the loose ball. In the 61st minute Town’s Jack Duck cut in from the left and fired goal wards from the edge of the box but Bitton’s keeper saved well. On 70 minutes a neat Bitton passing move led to a great chance in the centre of the box but the shot was weak and Callum Hotine saved easily. Three minutes later a headed clearance set Jack Newman clear. He rounded the Bitton keeper but his shot was blocked by a covering defender. In the 78th minute Bitton levelled the score. A free kick into the box was only half cleared. The ball was played back into the area and Keane Ashwood squared it into the six yard box where it was turned in by substitute Mickey Parsons, 1-1. In the 85th minute Bitton went close with a shot inside the box that forced Callum Hotine into a diving save at the foot of his right hand post. Three minutes later Town’s keeper saved bravely at the feet of a Bitton substitute who was clear in the box and was caught by a high boot. After consulting his linesman the referee deemed the attacker’s challenge on Callum was reckless and showed him a red card.
Today’s draw continued Town’s recent good form which has seen them lose just once in their last five games. With a game in hand they are now ten points clear of the bottom two teams in Division One.
Match report by: Geoff Jackson