Widnes FC pulled off an unbelievable comeback in the 2nd round of the Men United Cup as they recovered from a 4-1 deficit at halftime to draw level at 4-4 at the end of ninety minutes before subsequently beating St. Helens Town 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
The home side came into the game in impressive form, having lost only once in their last six games. They beat Barnton in 1-0 in the first round to advance to this stage thanks to a goal from James Ludgate.
St. Helens came into the game in poor form. They had lost eight of their last ten games in all competitions. They are without a league win since the beginning of September. The away side automatically received a bye into the second round courtesy of their status as a Premier Division side.
The away side started brightly and took the lead within the first minute. The ball was played forward down the right-hand side towards captain Andrew Gillespie, who delivered a cross that Chad Whyte picked up, and turned away from Matty Lennon before firing past David Nevitt to give St. Helens the lead.
It was a bright start from the Premier Division side, as they had a dangerous combination of pace and power going forward that was causing problems for the Widnes’ defence. They were awarded a penalty shortly after the 10-minute mark, as the ball fell to Whyte, who played a pass through to strike-partner Kristian Bell. Bell surged into the area before he was fouled by Widnes’ Paul Carney.
Whyte stepped up and confidently stroked the penalty home past Nevitt which gave St. Helens an early and comfortable two-goal cushion.
Widnes began to finally come into the game shortly afterwards. Bradley Williams sent a corner into the area that was met by Jay Cooper, however, the midfielder’s header towards goal was cleared off the line and out for another corner that came to nothing.
The home side again won a corner moments later. Williams again floated the ball in. This time it was met by Matty Lennon but it was a corner that had the same outcome as the previous, as Lennon’s goalbound header was cleared off the line.
Widnes were made to pay for their misfortune in front of goal as Town went 3-0 up not long afterwards, as Gillespie this time was influential down the left, as his pace was proving to be a problem. His cross this time found Kristian Bell, who poked the ball home ahead of goalkeeper Nevitt to increase the away side’s lead.
Ste Hill’s side thought they had pulled off an immediate reply, as Ben Tollitt played a through ball into the box that was subsequently picked up by Joel Douglas, who slotted his shot past the on-rushing Crowther into the back of the net. However, offside was called on Douglas and the goal was ruled out for offside.
St. Helens had the next big chance of the game. Good possession from the away side resulted in a Chad Whyte very nearly bagging a first half hat-trick after latching on to a through ball by Gareth Grant. However, he couldn’t hit the target, as he put his shot wide.
Widnes pulled a goal back a few minutes later. A Bradley Williams free-kick from the right-hand side was headed into his own net by Lewis Coyle. A costly mistake from the defender had allowed Widnes to get back into the game.
Despite this, St. Helens restored their 3-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time. Jamil Saleh’s cross across the face of goal intended for striker Whyte went straight in, past ‘keeper Nevitt to give St. Helens a 4-1 lead at half-time.
Ste Hill decided to make two changes at half-time. Mark McLaughlin and Jamil Campbell-Joseph came on for the debuts as they replaced Jay Cooper and Joel Douglas respectively.
Widnes started the second half in a lot better fashion than they had the first. They had the first chance of the half as Ben Tollitt had a shot well-saved by Crowther. The second half started at an entirely different pace to the first, with both sides creating fewer chances in the opening fifteen minutes.
Widnes pulled another goal back on the hour-mark. Debutant defender Sean Bowden-Davies picked the ball up on the halfway line before trying an audacious shot from just inside the centre-circle which lobbed over Rory Crowther into the back of the net. It was a sensational goal for the debutant.
As Widnes began to believe that they had a realistic opportunity of drawing level, disaster struck, as Fraser Ablett received a second yellow card for a silly challenge on Kristian Bell. It was an unnecessary dent into Widnes’ challenge of a comeback.
It didn’t really seem to have an adverse on the home side as they went on a quick counter-attack spearheaded by substitute Campbell-Joseph, as he fed Tollitt who pulled the ball back to McLaughlin who very nearly scored Widnes’ 3rd, as Crowther tipped it wide for a corner.
Widnes began to create a plethora of chances in the ensuing minutes. These chances eventually led to a goal for Ste Hill’s side. The two substitutes Campbell-Joseph and McLaughlin combined as the latter fed Campbell-Joseph who rounded the ‘keeper before slotting home a debut goal that brought Widnes right back into contention.
It set up an interesting final ten minutes of normal time, as Widnes’ defence was holding firm which allowed the home side to press for an equaliser. The equaliser came in stoppage time, as a Bradley Williams corner was headed into net by Alex Davies which was a goal that unbelievably, sent the game into extra-time.
The first period of extra-time was quiet, as neither team created a flurry of chances. However, the best chance of the half fell to Campbell-Joseph, as Williams did well down the left to deliver an excellent cross that was turned over the bar by the sliding in forward from two yards. It was easier for Campbell-Joseph to score, as the chance of a winner went begging.
The second period was just as quiet. However, Widnes had a penalty shout turned down, as Campbell-Joseph went down under the challenge of James Halpin in the area. Campbell-Joseph was booked for simulation, as his theatrical fall ultimately swayed the referee’s decision, as it looked as though the referee got the decision wrong.
The game ultimately went to penalties. The first six penalties were converted as the score was 3-3 as St. Helens defender Lewis Coyle, who had scored an own-goal in the first half stepped up for his side’s fourth penalty. His spot-kick was excellently saved by Nevitt, who did well to get down to his left to save the penalty.
Campbell-Joseph then put Widnes 4-3 ahead as he slotted his penalty past Rory Crowther. Karl Bergqvist then had to score to keep St. Helens in the game. However, he rattled his penalty against the underside of the crossbar to send Widnes through to the third round of the Men United Cup.
It can be argued that the home side’s resiliency shown the second half warranted a victory, as Widnes recovered from a 4-1 half-time deficit.
Manager Ste Hill was delighted with the character that his side showed. “It was brilliant. The lads never let their heads go down and we said to them forget the first-half and let’s just go out and see if we can win the second half, and let’s put the wrongs in that half right. And to be fair to the lads, the character they showed was top-draw.” Hill added, “They never give up, and I’m made up with that.”
However, Hill was disappointed with his side’s lacklustre first-half performance. “It was a disappointing first half, as the goals we had given away were a bit disjointed and cheap, and the passing play wasn’t good enough but on the other hand, I thought they were very lively up front. However, I thought that we caused our own problems.”
Widnes have been drawn to play Glossop North End away in the third round. However, beforehand, they face Prescot Cables at home on Monday Night in the first round of the Liverpool Senior Cup, a game that Hill viewed as game to look forward to. He added, “They’ll be coming down from the Evo-Stik league, so the standards will be slightly higher. So we have to be up for the challenge.”