GARY Finley celebrated a half century of matches on the Witton Albion bench since returning to the club with a win.

The last time the men from Wincham Park competed in this competition – and finished as runners-up – he was sat in the dugout alongside Gary Brabin, who was in the crowd.

This result was the right one.

Paul Booth put the visitors in front 12 minutes into the second half, sending Jamie Tandy’s cross beyond Prescot’s goalkeeper with a downward header.

Albion went close to extending their lead on the hour when Dylan Adams’s flighted ball from wide right was met by Steve Foster, but his header came back off the crossbar.

Witton, in control, then ceded ground to the team managed by former Winsford United manager Joe Gibiliru after the hosts’ boss made a double substitution.

A series of corners added to the pressure on the visitors’ backline then, when Adams came into contact with a Cables attacker, the referee pointed to the spot.

Wright sent Peter Kennedy, standing in for injured Joe Clegg between the posts, the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Kennedy pulled off a great save at the foot of the post soon afterwards, then another shot hit the outside of the same post following the flag kick.

Witton’s winner came on 78 minutes.

Sub Peter Heler danced past three tackles before laying off to Lee Neville on the left, and his back post cross was powered in by Stuart Rudd at full stretch.

Prescot’s frustration boiled over in the closing stages when skipper John Couch, who played for Gibiliru at Barton Stadium, was sent off after throwing the ball down in disgust after decision went against him.

Earlier a first half of few chances had been illuminated by Neville’s forward thrust on the whistle, leaving three opponents in his wake before picking out top scorer Foster.

But his effort was off target.

Before that Rudd, restored to the front line alongside Foster in the continued absence of Mike Moseley, blasted over after Booth had flicked on Tandy’s free kick.

Witton Kennedy (GK), Adams, Booth, Pritchard, Neville, Maylett (King 90), Henry, Hall (Brodie 75), Tandy (Heler 67), Foster, Rudd
Subs not used Tai-Hogan, Hadzik
Attendance 154