Burke guides the Whites to Glossop point
BEFORE the announcement of Dave Dempsey’s arrival at the club as new boss, managerless Widnes earned a point after a gutsy goalless draw at Glossop North End on Saturday.
The Whites, under the stewardship of interim manager Mike Burke, put in an excellent defensive display and were perhaps unfortunate not to snatch all three points late on.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between throughout the 90 minutes, and neither side could find the breakthrough, but Widnes will be the happier of the sides after travelling to Derbyshire missing a glut of senior players.
In truth, the game lacked any real quality with both Glossop and Widnes struggling for both form, and goals, heading into the contest.
New signing Joe Wright was handed an immediate start for the Whites, with interim manager Burke forced into six changes from the side beaten at Trafford last time out – the final game in charge for Steve
Akrigg and Kev Towey who resigned from their positions after the final whistle.
Ben Hampson was suspended while River Humphreys and Jack Banister both missed out through injury. Elsewhere, Jay Roberts and Ben Wharton had both left the club during the week and Kyle Sambor was ruled out through illness.
The 18-year-old Wright, formerly of Rochdale, provided width off the right flank for Widnes while Burke played the full 90 minutes at centreback alongside Jordan Barrow in makeshift backline.
Fisnik Hajdari captained the side, while Ryan Watters, James Steele and Ryan Jennings all earned recalls.
It took 34 minutes for either side had a real sight of goal and it was Glossop who provided the game’s first shot on target, but Owen Wheeler was equal to Shakeel JonesGriffiths’ effort.
Widnes responded and worked a decent opportunity on the cusp of half-time, but Sam Adetiloye skewed his shot out for a throw-in on the far side.
The Whites, the division’s lowest scorers, were the more threatening side in the second half but lacked any sort of ruthlessness in front of goal.
Steele was too cute with a free kick in a good position, striking the ball beneath the wall but didn’t have the power required to trouble Glossop keeper Harry Allen, who made a comfortable save.
Jennings then headed over from a Shaun Holden corner while Allen made a routine save from a long-range Liam Kennington effort on the hour mark.
The Hillmen would throw bodies forward late on in search of a winner but were left suffocated by Widnes’ dominant defensive line, with Burke and Barrow particularly impressive in handling the strength and power of Glossop striker Sewa Marah, who scored against the Whites for Mossley two weeks ago.
Widnes could have won it late on when Steele won possession back from Nathan Whalley on the edge of Glossop’s area to quickly tee up debutant substitute Louis Danquah, but Allen made a good save down to his left.
In isolation, this will be seen as a decent point for Widnes, but the Whites remain winless in five with just four points from their opening seven league games.
“All I asked of the boys this week is that they give me absolutely everything and I think they’ve done that and more,” Burke said.“We wanted to draw a line under the last week because we know it’s not been good enough.”