With many changes in their team, due to injuries and suspensions, the Witham line-up at Banstead Athletic on Saturday looked somewhat depleted.

However, with several youngsters drafted in, and Town manager George Young also playing, Witham battled well to secure maximum points from a team holding fifth place in the league.

Both teams had early chances and home goalkeeper Glyn Shimell was busy early on by saving shots from Gino Defeo and Mitchell Springett as Witham had the upper hand.

Dominic Feltham had a glorious chance to open the scoring for Bansted but he shot over with an open goal at his mercy.

What proved to be the only goal of the game came in the 52nd minute, netted by Adam Morrish after some neat work by Defeo, but Morrish was stretchered off soon afterwards with an ankle injury.

The longer the game went on, the more confident Witham got, and they forced Shimel to make several good saves and the Town youngsters were urged on by the senior players, by both example and voice.

Just before the end a run through the defence by young Gerry Hawes ended with his shot just inches away from the top corner of the net -- had it gone in, it would have won a 'goal of the season' award.

Witham have one more Ryman League game to play this season, on Saturday, when they entertain Marlow at Spa Road (kick off 3pm).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.