WITHAM TOWN 1 WROXHAM 2

Ryman League division north

Wroxham’s trip to Witham Town proved to be lucky 13 for the Norfolk side as they recorded their first win of the Ryman League division north season.

The visitors started the game rock bottom of the division north table without a league win from their opening 12 games of the campaign, but came from behind to beat Witham 2-1 at the Village Glass Stadium.

Witham made just one change from the side that won in dramatic style late in their FA Trophy game against Aveley on Saturday, with Lewis Payne returning to the starting line-up and Ryan Charles dropping to the bench.

The hosts were unable to pick up where they left off from the previous game, though, as Wroxham saw more of the ball in a scrappy start to the game.

Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening exchanges as both took a while to settle and it took until the 14th minute for Witham’s first meaningful effort on goal.

It came from Scott Kemp as he cut in from the left and tried a curling effort, but Wroxham keeper Elliott Pride was able to watch as it slid past the post.

However, he soon went closer when a good break down the left-hand side of the pitch ended with a shot on target that Pride had to get down smartly to block away.

The pressure was slowly building on the Wroxham goal and that finally told in the 20th minute when Kemp was involved again and good work out wide saw him set up Tim Monsheju for a simple tap-in goal.

Witham looked in complete control, with their back line containing any Wroxham forays forward so it came against the run of play when the visitors managed to get a leveller from a seemingly innocuous position.

For once the home defence failed to clear their lines and when the ball fell to Davillian Katabana about 20 yards out, he had time to pick his spot and fire past Witham keeper Lewis Snelgrove.

It was a setback for Town, but they looked to respond and went close to a second goal in the 35th minute.

Te ball sat up invitingly for Max Bradford to have a go at goal and he caught it beautifully, but his arching shot clattered back off the crossbar to deny him what would have been a tremendous goal.

Wroxham, clearly buoyed by their goal, were a far greater threat now, though, and they had the ball in the back of the home net again soon after, but were only denied by and out-stretched flag for offside.

It meant it stayed level at the break, but Witham were almost caught out again as the second –half started.

Slow to clear their lines again from a corner, Wroxham’s Matt Halliday had time to pick his spot and hit a sweet drive that cannoned off the post.

It was a let off for Witham, but they gradually regained control of the game and only two pieces of superb last-ditch defending denied them on the hour mark.

First, Kemp took the ball round Pride and slotted the ball towards the goal only to see Oliver Ebbage clear off the line and from the resulting corner another goal-line clearance was made by Wroxham’s Liam Clayton from a bullet header by Damien Green.

Ronto then curled one past the post and Monsheju’s low effort was collected by Pride as a second goal remained elusive.

Not taking their chances was to prove costly for Town in the 81st minute when Wroxham went ahead as the ball ended up in the back of the home net following a goalmouth scramble from a corner.

Witham suddenly had to battle to find a way back into a game they had been controlling and saw more chances not taken as Ryan Charles curled a free-kick just past the post and Monsheju then found the side-netting from an acute angle.

However, the goal just wouldn’t come and Wroxham were left celebrating their first win of the campaign.

Witham Town: Lewis Snelgrove, Damien Green, Tyler Hayes, Lewis Payne (Michael Osei 83), James Regis, Pat Ahern, Nathan Korentang, Max Bradford (Ryan Charles 72), Tim Monsheju, Elliott Ronto, Scott Kemp (John Watson 79).

Subs not used: Luke Mallett, Lance Akins.

Referee: Christopher Francis.