Widnes edged in 11-goal epic before exiting Vase
LITHERLAND REMYCA ...................... 6 WIDNES FC ........................................... 5
WIDNES FC fell to their first away defeat of the season last Wednesday night, losing an extraordinary match 6-5 at Litherland REMYCA.
Widnes interim manager Danny Salt made two changes to the side that beat Atherton LR 4-2 in their previous outing. Mike Burke and Luke Edwards came in for Jason McShane and Ryan Malone.
Meanwhile, Dale Davies and George Lomax were named amongst the substitutes for Widnes, potentially in-line to make the first appearance in a Widnes shirt. Lomax completed his move from St Helens Town earlier in the week.
Regardless of Widnes’ positive start to the game at Litherland Sports Park, REMYCA took the lead on the nine minute mark.
Widnes cheaply lost possession deep in their own half allowing Colin Quirk to pick out Alex Ryan at the back-post who put the hosts ahead with a tidy finish.
Three minutes later, REMYCA doubled their lead. Niall Gannon saw a shot blocked for Litherland, with the ball sitting up nicely for Colin McDonald, who guided the ball home on the half-volley.
Widnes reacted well to the early deficit as strikers Kev Towey and Neil Harvey forced a couple of saves out of Litherland goalkeeper Lee Carroll as the visitors looked for the all-important third goal.
Widnes did pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time. Kev Pollard’s freekick forward fell at the feet of Towey, who found the far corner with a clever finish on the turn.
The game was finely poised at the break with Widnes heading in with hard-earned momentum.
Widnes carried that momentum into the second period and equalised five minutes into the half.
James McShane’s corner came back out to Danny Laverty, who recorded his first goal for Widnes in spectacular style, finding the top corner in off the post from all of 30 yards.
Five minutes later, Widnes were ahead. Towey brought the ball down before coming inside from the left. He then pulled the trigger from the edge of the D with his shot finding its way into the back of the net despite Carroll appearing to get a good hand on the effort.
Towey completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later.
Substitute Jason McShane almost made an immediate impact as he forced a good save out of Carroll, allowing Towey to fire the rebound into the roof of the net to record his second treble of the season.
McShane’s introduction for the superb, but injured Harvey ended up proving to be a decisive moment in the game which began to swing back in the hosts’ favour following the forced tactical change.
REMYCA replied minutes later. Quirk was again involved as he curled a delicious ball towards the back-post, allowing Ryan to turn home his second goal of the night.
Fifteen minutes from REMYCA found an equaliser.
Widnes were left kicking themselves as they failed to clear their lines, allowing substitute James McGrane to sweep in and slot the ball beneath Kris Leigh making it 4-4 on the night.
The twists and turns didn’t stop there, however, as Widnes went back in front just three minutes later.
James McShane’s corner eventually made its way to Pollard at the backpost, who drifted away from his man to turn the ball home at the near-post as Widnes regained the lead.
The game’s 10th goal came eight minutes from time as REMYCA equal- time, ised for the second time.
McGrane was superb off the bench for the hosts and again provided the assist as his cross was dummied by Quirk allowing Tom Foley to arrive at the back-post and find the net with a neat finish.
REMYCA missed a good chance for a winner shortly afterwards. McGrane beat Joe Fielding in a foot race before advancing on goal. Unfortunately for the REMYCA man, his touch was poor and the ball ran away from him with Leigh making a good stop once McGrane pulled the trigger.
Litherland eventually recorded their sixth goal and what turned out to be the winner two minutes from time.
McGrane again got the better of Fielding before picking out fellow substitute Ewan McKevitt in the sixyard area who cushioned the ball home to make it 6-5.
Widnes came inches away from making it 6-6 inside stoppage time.
A dipping volley from defender Tom Mitchell missed the target by the smallest of margins as the ball flew just over the bar. WIDNES FC ........................................... 1 CHADDERTON...................................... 4 IT was an afternoon to forget for Widnes on Saturday as Chadderton claimed a 4-1 victory at the Select Security Stadium to advance into the first round of the FA Vase.
Joey Dunn was handed the Widnes reins on Friday but Danny Salt continued in the dugout and took charge of the team for the final game, handing debuts to brothers George and Chris Lomax, with Dale Davies also making his first start for the club at right-back as they came in for Neil Harvey, Jack Graham and Joe Fielding.
Meanwhile, Jason McShane and Luke J Edwards came in for James McShane and Kev Pollard as Salt made five changes to the side that were beaten 6-5 in the incredible encounter at Litherland REMYCA on the Wednesday night.
The game got off to a slow and somewhat dull start, as both teams exchanged possession and lacked an end-product offensively.
Chadderton’s Matthew Crothers curled a free-kick into the gloves of Widnes keeper Kris Leigh before Luke J Edwards volleyed over for the home side on the 20-minute mark.
Danny Laverty got on the end of a good ball from George Lomax before firing a shot over for Widnes, bringing a disappointing end to neat build-up play from the hosts.
Minutes later, Chadderton’s Samuel Gibson played a poor backpass that was nearly intercepted by Widnes’ George Lomax.
However, goalkeeper Michael Smith was alert and cleared the danger to the relief of his teammate.
On the half-hour mark, Chadderton took the lead. Nicholas Alexander found the far corner of Leigh’s net with a well-taken free-kick from 25 yards out.
Questions were raised about the foul as Kev Towey appeared to win the ball with his challenge but referee Ben Harrison disagreed and penalised the Widnes forward, ultimately leading to the visitors’ opener.
On the stroke of half-time, Chadderton doubled their lead – it was a goal that seemed to come from nothing as Matthew Landregan patiently engineered space on the edge of the box before finding the top corner with a delightful finish, leaving goalkeeper Leigh with no chance.
Widnes needed a reaction in the second-half and came close to an equaliser.
Debuting striker George Lomax rose highest to head a Luke J Edwards corner over the bar from inside the six-yard area.
Despite Widnes’ decent start to the half, Chadderton increased their lead on the 56-minute mark. The ball came out to Alexander, who chested it down before finding the bottom corner with a rasping drive.
Widnes eventually pulled a goal back on the 74-minute mark.
George Lomax’s persistence infront of goal paid off as a good delivery from sibling Chris allowed George to peel away from his man and head home.
However, the goal turned out to be merely a consolation as Chadderton restored their three-goal cushion 12 minutes from time.
Crothers was on the end of teammate Vincent Howell’s through ball before finding the bottom corner with a tidy finish.
Widnes were back in league action last night with a match at Cheadle Town. On Saturday they visit Alsager Town in the first round of The Macron Cup (kick-off 3pm).
And next Tuesday evening they go to Whitchurch Alport for another league game (kick-off 7.45pm).