WITTON ABLBION 1

LINCOLN UNITED 3

WITTON Albion went to finishing school on Saturday.

They had more chances than their hosts and looked more fluent in their approach play.

But they lacked composure in front of goal and were ultimately punished by the division's top scorers.

Albion were behind just inside half an hour when Richard Ranshaw found Andy Gray, who demonstrated the finishing prowess of his pundit namesake, with a cool shot past Phil McGing.

Witton could have levelled immediately when Steve Whitehead broke down the left and centred to David Anane, whose weak shot was never going to beat home 'keeper Mario Ziccardi.

But they got back on terms three minutes after the Lincoln opener when Richard Carter bravely challenged Ziccardi for a Kevin Garforth cross.

The ball fell kindly for Charlie Boyd who picked out Anane and he made amends for his earlier miss, slipping the ball between Ziccardi and his near post.

Parity didn't last long. Lincoln were back in front eight minutes before the break when Ranshaw headed Nigel Baily's right wing cross firmly past McGing.

Witton's woes in front of goal increased in the second half. Garforth, enjoying a rare start, was twice guilty, first hesitating rather than shooting and then passing when an effort on goal looked possible.

His striking partner also missed a glorious chance to equalise, lobbing the ball into the keeper's hand after being picked out by Boyd for a second time.

Lincoln showed their visitors how to finish 10 minutes from time when Ranshaw picked up a loose ball in midfield and raced forward before shooting wide of McGing's left hand.

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