Widnes return from New Year Market trip with welcome points in their basket
Market Drayton Town 0
Widnes FC 2 WIDNES FC kicked-off the new calendar year in the best possible fashion with a couple of goals and a clean sheet as they saw off Market Drayton Town 2-0 on New Year’s Day afternoon.
Dale Korie-Butler and Ben Hodkinson netted second half strikes as Widnes bounced back from back-to-back league defeats against Radcliffe and Runcorn Linnets as 2018 drew to a close.
The Whites travelled south to Shropshire missing eight first-team regulars enforcing five changes to the side beaten in Boxing Day’s El Clasitoll by Runcorn Linnets.
With co-boss Kev Towey on holiday, Korie-Butler came in to partner Hodkinson up front while Rob Bourne, Phil Mooney and stand-in skipper Sean Myler were handed recalls to the starting XI.
Brothers George and Chris Lomax were forced into unfamiliar roles at both full-back positions with Jay Roberts and Bram Johnstone unavailable, while Sam Sheen returned from injury in the engine room.
Widnes were boosted, however, by the inclusion of Mike Burke in a matchday squad for the first time since October as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
The hosts – who began the day three points behind Widnes with a game in-hand – started strongly with Ryan McLean looking to get the better of makeshift left-back Chris Lomax.
Town threatened in the early exchanges when Lyndon Campbell drove an ● effort towards goal that fizzed wide of Owen Wheeler’s goal.
Striker Hodkinson cut a lonely figure leading the line in the first half for Widnes, but the Whites grew into the contest as it wore on with Chris Lomax having a shot block and skipper Myler blazing over the target.
Both teams pressed for an opener early in the second half, but Widnes had the better of the chances with Korie-Butler firing straight at Town goalkeeper Mason Springthorpe, formerly of Everton, after good work by Myler.
The Whites grabbed a deserved opener 10 minutes into the second period.
Myler was again influential, releasing Hodkinson down the left who provided a teasing cross for Korie-Butler to slide in and break the deadlock.
Widnes began to push for a second goal with Hodkinson forcing a decent save out of Springthorpe, but Market Drayton continued to carry a threat and Mooney had to be alert to clear a loose ball off the goalline.
Town were awarded a golden opportunity to get themselves on level terms when they were awarded a penalty 15 minutes from time, but Harvey Howell missed the target with his spot-kick.
Widnes were reprieved, and less than three minutes later, the Whites added a second to effectively seal all three points.
Hodkinson continued his fine recent run of form, hitting a screamer from distance that nestled in the back of the net – his sixth goal in Widnes’s last seven games.