After a heart-breaking and undeserved defeat in the Halstead Town Invitational Trophy against Yeovil earlier in the week, Witton Albion's Football Manager boss Paul Harper led his side into battle once more, this time in the NPL E-Cup.

Cheshire rivals Nantwich Town were the opponents for the opening Group C fixture, with City of Liverpool and Gainsborough Trinity making up the other teams in the pool.

Albion named a strong line up but got off to the worst possible start and found themselves 2-0 down inside five minutes.

Sean Cooke was the architect of Witton's downfall, the Albion defence conceding a pair of free-kicks 25 yards out and the Dabbers man converted on both occasions in great style.

Witton got up a head of steam, though, and built their back back into the game with a few half chances before they got on the scoresheet just before half time.

It was another screamer of a goal, as Jay Foley picked the ball up outside the penalty area, looked up and tried his luck from 30 yards with the balling flying into the bottom corner.

Game on!

Will Booth was replaced by Nick Ryan in a tactical change by the manager, with Liam Goulding (yes, he's back for e-football!) moving from a defensive role to a midfield position.

It was an onslaught on the Nantwich goal in the second half with Albion going for it and throwing the kitchen sink at their opponents.

Plates and pans were going everywhere when James Foley was through on goal but the goalkeeper somehow made a save to deny him.

Nantwich did have a chance with Ben Harrison hit the top of the crossbar with a header from a Cooke free-kick, but the pressure continued at the other end.

Isaac Baldwin and Rob Hopley were introduced as substitutes, and the latter could have sealed a draw in the final kick of the game, but his flick from a Tyrone Duffus free-kick hit the crossbar.

So, two games and two losses for Paul Harper in his Football Manager Witton career, not a great start. Two games still to go though, against City of Liverpool and Gainsborough Trinity, to see if we can progress into the quarter finals of the competition.

Is he feeling the pressure?

"Football Manager is even more frustrating than the real game of football!" proclaimed Harper.

"In both games, we've had our chances and it could have been a very different picture had we converted them.

"I know it's a results based business though and we'll be doing everything we can to turn the form around."

There will be a video highlights package of the game available on WITTonTV (YouTube) in the next few hours.