Honours even in thrilling local derby
getting a shot away after a good move from the visitors.
Town took the lead on the half-hour mark when Buckley opened the scoring, but Widnes soon pegged their hosts back through Mike Burke who headed home from a corner to equalise two minutes later.
But Runcorn soon restored their advantage when Buckley added his second, rounding Terry to finish into an empty net.
Paul McManus’s side scored again to go in at half-time with a 3-1 advantage when wide-man Jennings made a great run to finish neatly into the bottom corner.
With words from co-bosses Akrigg and Towey still ringing in their ears, Widnes started the second-half strongly and pulled a goal back after 49 minutes with summer signing Jordan Southworth lashing in a shot from the edge of the box.
The Whites were much the better side early in the second half and they equalised shortly after the hour-mark.
Runcorn could only half-clear a corner and Widnes duly punished their neighbours with off-season addition Jack Hatton curling a delicious shot into the top corner with Town custodian Adam Reid wellbeaten.
Having worked hard to get on level terms, Widnes will be bitterly disappointed to have conceded a fourth Runcorn goal less than two minutes after parity was restored.
Buckley completed his hat-trick, nodding home from a Kieran Holsgrove corner as the goals continued to flow in earnest.
It was five 14 minutes from time as Liam Ward headed in a Kevin Exell cross as Runcorn restored their twogoal advantage and surely thought that they were well on their way to an impressive triumph.
But the Whites had other ideas, and co-boss Towey – also frequently a goalscorer in former club Runcorn Linnets colours – came off the bench to drive home a well-hit strike to halve the deficit and set up a tense finish.
And Widnes would earn themselves a draw when Mikey Conlon – signed from Newcastle Town in July – netted a fifth to close out an entertaining Halton Derby.
RUNCORN Town’s pre-season preparations also saw them beat Cheshire League side Lostock Gralam 4-0 in a home friendly, with Kieran Holsgrove, Ryan Cox, Lewis Buckley and Kevin Exell.