Dunn’s biggest loss gets Widnes FA Cup story off to a bad start
WIDNES FC ...................... 0 HANDSWORTH PARRAMORE ................... 2 WIDNES FC’s first-ever FA Cup campaign was over before it ever really got going as Yorkshirebased side Handsworth Parramore ran out 5-0 winners at the Select Security Stadium on Sunday.
John Hill’s header gave the visitors a narrow lead at the break with Joseph Thornton extending Handsworth’s advantage two minutes into the second half. An Aaron Moxon double put the tie beyond all doubt before Daniel Buttle’s strike two minutes from time sunk Widnes to their heaviest defeat under Joey Dunn.
After a positive pre-season, manager Dunn named three debutants in the starting line-up as Louie Mackin, Michael White and Colin Quirk all made their first competitive appearances for Widnes.
It was the visitors who started the brighter of the two sides with Thornton twice shooting over before James Ashmore blazed wide inside the opening minutes.
Widnes were limited to half-chances with George Lomax latching on to Kev Towey’s flick-on only to fire over before Alex Davies drove into the penalty area but could only shoot into the gloves of Handsworth keeper Christopher Butt.
Chances continued to fall the way of the visitors and they took the lead with 25 minutes on the clock. Hill, who had headed inches wide moments earlier, popped up again in the area to direct a towering header into the back of the net beyond keeper Mackin.
Widnes went in search of a reply and almost hit back within three minutes. Jay Roberts advanced forward and slipped a clever pass through to Towey. The stand-in skipper still had some work to do and he did it well, engineering space for a chipped effort towards the back post that was superbly clawed away by Butt.
Little happened in the remainder of the first half, though Handsworth still remained in control of the proceedings and they continued to keep their hosts frustrated.
It was clear that the next goal would determine the direction of the game and it was Handsworth who grabbed the crucial second. Thornton found himself in space on the far side and was given time to roll a shot inside of the near post.
Handsworth had maintained their stranglehold from the first half, limiting Widnes to long-range efforts.
Quirk showed good footwork before striking wide of the upright with Davies trying his luck from 30 yards following the hour-mark only for his shot to sail wide.
Midway through the second half, Handsworth added a third, killing any faint hopes of a Widnes comeback.
High pressure up the field forced Sam Sheen into an uncharacteristic error with Patrick Lindsay intercepting the loose ball and finding Moxon in space and he finished with aplomb.
Dunn looked to strikers Chad Whyte and Billy Webb with one last roll of the dice but the visitors went from strength to strength, keen to add to their tally with a fourth goal arriving after 80 minutes.
A moment of brilliance from earlier goalscorer Moxon allowed him to bag his second of the afternoon, turning Mike Burke inside out before converting from the edge of the box – all but ensuring Handsworth’s place in the preliminary round with a trip to Rotherham-based Parkgate.
To Widnes’ dismay, Handsworth were not finished there and Buttle went on to complete the scoring two minutes from time as the winger raced on to Moxon’s through-ball and beat Roberts for pace before arrowing a shot beyond the on-rushing Mackin to compound the hosts’ misery. ● Widnes will be looking to bounce back from FA Cup disappointment as their league campaign gets under way on Saturday with a trip to West Didsbury & Chorlton before their home opener against Abbey Hey on the following Tuesday night. RUNCORN TOWN .........................3 AFC DARWEN ...............................2
CRAIG Cairns picked up from where he left off last year as he kicked off his second season in Town colours with a hat-trick to send them through to the FA Cup preliminary round.
Cairns, who struck 52 goals last season, netted a late penalty to seal a 3-2 win over AFC Darwen in a thrilling tie befitting the world’s oldest cup competition.
Cairns had an early opportunity when he found himself one on one but his shot flew straight at Whittingham.
But Darwen took the lead in the seventh minute when, from a corner on the right, Matt Allen headed powerfully home from six yards.
A shot from Doran was tipped over the bar by Whittingham as Town responded.
And they equalised in the 14th minute when a McManus corner found James who headed the ball back across the goal to an unmarked Cairns who turned it into the net.
Doran set Cairns up but the striker’s lob over Whittingham drifted agonisingly wide of the far upright.
Darwen looked especially dangerous from set pieces and Metcalf did well to punch the ball clear from Nabeel.
When Cairns fired in a shot on the turn the ball flew straight at Whittingham.
But Town took the lead in the 34th minute. Doran headed the ball into the path of Cairns, who rounded the keeper before side footing the ball into the empty net.
James headed a McManus corner over the crossbar then Exell crossed to Julien who chested the ball wide of the target.
Town had edged the first half but it was Darwen who started the second half the stronger.
The impressive Nebeel did well to get round Roxburgh but his shot deflected off McManus for a corner.
But when McManus pushed Mark McKay in the penalty area the referee immediately awarded a penalty from which McKay brought the two teams level in the 56th minute.
Doran crossed to Exell who hit a powerful shot at Whittingham, then Exell laid the ball to Doran who volleyed the ball wide.
Some clever ball control from Cairns resulted in a chipped cross to Doran who headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
Jarrett then flashed a volley across the goal as Town looked for a winner.
Darwen’s Brown almost broke through with a low shot towards ● the bottom corner, and it took a full length save from Metcalf to fingertip the ball for a corner.
Doran broke down the left but his shot failed to trouble Whittingham.
Just as a replay looked likely in the 90th minute, Darwen had a great chance to secure victory as a pinpoint cross from Nabeel found Ralph who fired over the bar from six yards.
From the goal-kick Doran headed on to Cairns who was brought down in the area by Whittingham.
From the resultant penalty Cairns hammered the ball home in the third minute of added on t time. ● Runcorn Town travel to EvoStik League club Frickley Athletic in the next round on Saturday, A August 19, kick-off 3pm.
The club are running a coach t to Yorkshire for the game.
Seats can be booked via Alan B Bennett on 07711 786480.
The coach leaves Pavilions at 1 11am, it returns approximately 45 minutes after the final whistle. Return fare is £10.