Wids’ encouraging start
WIDNES FC ............................... 2 ALTRINCHAM ........................... 2
ANEW-LOOK Widnes FC side gave a good account of themselves in the first pre-season friendly as Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard’s side held Vanarama National League North side Altrincham to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon.
In front of a bumper crowd of 256 at the Select Security Stadium, the new management duo handed debuts to 10 of the 11 players who started the game, with last season’s top scorer Luke Edwards being the only familiar face to be given the nod.
Meadowcroft and Pritchard also named five potential debutants on the bench, alongside five players from last season’s squad.
New Altrincham manager Neil Young was taking charge of the Robins for the first time since his appointment in May, and named a strong first-team outfit to start the game, consisting of names from last season’s squad, new signings and trialists.
Widnes started the game well and tested Altrincham’s goalkeeper Ciaran O’Loughlin inside the opening minute.
Edwards intercepted a misplaced pass before linking up with young striker Jack White, who forced a good save out of the former Everton keeper who is on trial with the Robins.
The visitors again had their keeper to thank for keeping the scoreline level as Widnes came close shortly before the 10 minute mark. White did well to outmuscle David Lynch before threading the ball through to Edwards on the left whose shot towards goal was beaten away by O’Loughlin at his near post.
Billy Hasler-Cregg looked lively throughout the opening period for the away side, getting the better of defender Jack Riley before failing to hit the target with his shot.
He again threatened shortly afterwards, seeing a shot towards goal pushed away by debuting Widnes shot-stopper Richie Mottram.
And the same player came to Widnes’s rescue midway through the half as he prevented a certain opener from the visitors. Altrincham’s James Lawrie turned away from Mike Burke in the area, leaving the former Northern Ireland international one-on-one with Mottram who produced a superb save to tip Lawrie’s effort over the bar.
Young’s side came inches away from an opener on the 30-minute mark. Lawrie got the better of full-back Josh Kavanagh and fizzed a cross towards the back post that just evaded his strike-partner Craig Hobson, who couldn’t quite muster a touch on the ball.
Widnes took the lead 10 minutes before the break.
After an apparent foul on Hasler-Cregg wasn’t given deep in Widnes territory, a long ball was launched forward towards White which caused confusion amongst the Altrincham backline.
This allowed White to lift the ball over the head of on-rushing keeper O’Loughlin and recording the game’s opening goal.
After a quiet period, Altrincham hit the post with the last piece of action of the half. Lawrie linked up with Lynch, who turned away from his marker before rolling the ball against the frame of the goal.
Both sides began the second half having made wholesale changes. Keeper Mottram and Edwards (who replaced Kev Pollard early in the half) were the only players to remain from the Widnes side who finished the opening period.
After a fairly uneventful opening to the half, Altrincham substitutes Boris Melingui and Damian Reeves linked up with the latter heading the former’s cross over the bar.
Widnes were given an opportunity to double their lead as the hosts were awarded a 64th minute penalty.
Tunde Owolabi hassled Simon Richman and forced the Altrincham midfielder into an error before being dragged down by Sam Heathcote in the area, leaving referee Joe Johnson with no choice but to point to the spot.
Owolabi himself stepped up, and confidently stroked the ball into the bottom corner, sending Andrew Dawber the wrong way.
Widnes coped well with Altrincham for large parts of the game, with the visitors struggling to find a fluency to their game. However, as the game reached its closing stages, the Robins finally found a rhythm and were awarded a penalty of their own with 15 minutes to go.
Melingui again linked up with Reeves, threading a fine ball through to the Altrincham forward whose effort could only be parried by Mottram with Danny Hattersley being brought down by Jordan Stafford as the substitute attempted to convert the rebound.
Hattersley dusted himself down and slotted his penalty into the bottom corner, sending Mottram the wrong way.
Altrincham now looked more likely to grab an equaliser, as Widnes looked to survive a late barrage from the visitors. Hattersley and Reeves both missed half-chances before Young’s side managed to muster a late leveller.
A superb pass from Jamie Menagh split the Widnes backline and allowed Reeves to race clear before steering an effort beyond Mottram for a goal that saw the game end 2-2.
Widnes were excellent for sustained periods of the game, providing a thorough, but early insight into what to expect from the team in the upcoming season for supporters and coaching staff alike.
Widnes’s next pre-season game takes place on Saturday as Meadowcroft and Pritchard take their side to Hallmark Security League Premier Division side Congleton Town. That game kicks-off at 2.30pm.