Words Joe Edgar | Pictures Karl Brooks

Alty youngster Joel Bailey scored his first goal for his loan club as he helped Witton Albion progress into Emirates FA Cup Third Round Qualifying.

Bailey, an impressive young centre-back who was rated very highly by Phil
Parkinson and the Alty staff during pre-season, has been an ever-present in the
Witton side since his move and contributed his first goal on Saturday.

It came in the first half and put Albion into an early 2-0 lead against Northern League Division One side Crook Town. The home team did bring a goal back to make it 2-1 and test Witton Albion’s resilience, but Ben Harrison’s men held on to progress into the next round.

Also present in Witton Albion’s victory was Altrincham’s Owen German. He played all 90 minutes of the game, helping the side get into the draw for the next round.

Alty (and all the other National League sides) enter the competition in Fourth Round Qualifying, so Albion are only one win away from a potential matchup with the Robins.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Harrison Howells bagged a goal for Cheadle Heath Nomads in an impressive 4-1 victory away from home against Stockport Georgians.

The Nomads took a 2-0 lead after only 28 minutes before the Georgians brought a
goal back just before the hour mark. After coming on as a substitute, Howells latched on to a defensive mistake from the opposition and slotted the following 1-on-1 to restore Cheadle Heath’s two-goal advantage.

Howells was joined by another Altrincham prospect off the bench, as Max Whittle
made an appearance in the Nomads’ important victory. They now sit fifth (and in a
playoff spot) in the North West Counties First Division South with 22 points from their opening 12 games.

Earlier last week it was Lucas Weaver's turn to get off the mark for his loan club, Bamber Bridge. The winger scored the third tally in Brig's 4-2 home win over Prescot Cables in the Northern Premier League.