Sorry Widnes crash out of Reusch First Division Cup

A last-minute Anthony Wynne header sent the managerless away side through to the second round.
Widnes came into the game in less than impressive form. The home side have failed to win in the league since early October with their most recent success having come courtesy of penalty shootout victories over St. Helens Town and Prescot Cables in the Men United and Liverpool Senior Cups respectively.
Meanwhile, Barnton are flying in their first season in the North West Counties First Division. The away side have won four of their last five league games and they are currently sitting in fifth position in the table. However, they came into the game reeling after manager Andy Burgess left the club via mutual consent on Saturday.
It was tight opening to the game with Barnton enjoying the better of the early exchanges as they registered two early shots on goal. Interim player-manager Colin Quirk, who caused Widnes a hatful of problems when the two sides last met in September (a 1-0 victory for Widnes in the Men United Cup), burst into the area before unleashing a shot that required an excellent save from young Widnes keeper Ben Morrow, who was making only his second appearance for the home side.
Morrow was called into action once again moments later. Quirk caught Luke Colford in possession before going unchallenged as he advanced towards the penalty area. He then played a pass into the path of Anthony Wynne whose shot was well-saved by the former Prescot Cables goalkeeper.
Widnes registered their first shot on goal shortly before the 10-minute mark. Joel Douglas did well down the left-hand side to get the better of Jesse Robinson which opened up space for Ben Tollitt who was in acres of space. Tollitt received the pass and had a shot that was comfortably saved by Barnton keeper Thomas Needham.
Barnton again threatened shortly afterwards. Ryan Malone left behind Matty Lennon who allowed the forward to get to the wrong side of him. Malone hit a powerful volley that tested Morrow, as the goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant save.
Widnes should have taken the lead midway through the first half. Ben Tollitt’s quick feet down the right-hand side allowed him to get away from Stephen Rothwell before delivering a delicious cross that was met by the head of Joel Douglas which took a sensational instinctive save from Needham that he didn’t know too much about, to keep the score line level.
It was following this point that the game began to swing into Widnes’ favour. Tollitt, who was Widnes’ brightest spark on the night, laid the ball off to Luke Colford whose shot from just outside the area took a massive deflection that left Needham rooted to the spot. However, luckily for him, the ball drifted out for a Widnes corner that came to nothing.
Fraser Ablett was next to try his luck for Widnes, as his long-range shot very nearly caught Needham out as the Barnton goalkeeper spilled the midfielder’s swerving effort. The rebound fell to Joel Douglas whose shot was sensationally denied by the away side’s number one, who recovered fantastically well to make the save.
Widnes continued to threaten as the half began to wind down, as Colford was fouled by Connor Tagoe on the very edge of the area to gives Steve Hill’s side a threatening free-kick. It was taken by danger man Tollitt, who gave Widnes the lead with a stunning, curling set-piece that beat Needham down to his bottom corner. That goal was Tollitt’s seventh of the season.
The home side started the second half in similar fashion to the way that they ended the first. James Ludgate pulled off a terrific cross-field pass to pick out Douglas. The forward beat Jesse Robinson before pulling the ball back to Tollitt who should have done better, as his shot was hit straight at the keeper.
Barnton didn’t really threaten within the opening ten minutes of the second half until Jason McShane won a penalty for the away side as he went down under a Colford challenge. Player-manager Quirk stepped-up, and coolly slotted the ball past Morrow, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to draw his side level.
The goal encouraged Hill to send on Bradley Williams for Fraser Ablett to give his side some more width to their game. He was involved in the next big-talking point of the game as his corner from the right was headed towards goal by Joel Douglas. The ball appeared to strike Matthew Rigby on the hand which incensed Widnes players as the referee waved away appeals.
As the game began to draw to a close, Barnton looked to be the most likely to bag a winner as Quirk once again threatened, as his half-volley went inches wide of the post in what was a massive let-off for Widnes.
Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages as the game went into stoppage time. It looked like Widnes would be facing extra-time in a cup game for the third time this season, until their former player James Thomas pulled off a sensational cross from the right-hand side that was met by the head of Anthony Wynne, who got to the ball ahead of Danny Lomax, to head Barnton into the second round, dumping Widnes out in the process.
Widnes manager Steve Hill was bitterly disappointed with his side’s performance. “I thought that Barnton were the better team and that they deserved the win. We were well below-par tonight. I don’t know whether it is because of a lack of confidence at the moment, but we move on to Saturday where we must pick ourselves up.”
Hill was then questioned about whether his side’s elimination could improve league form due to the lack of fixture congestion. “We’ve been struggling in the league lately but winning cup games, but like I said it can be a hindrance at times, but the league is the priority. Obviously, despite how disappointed I am with tonight’s performance, I am always going to get back to the league because we want to push for the playoffs.”
Widnes travel to Eccleshall on Saturday as they return to league action following this disappointing loss. Hill didn’t mess around when he stated what Widnes’ objective for the game was. “We need the three points desperately. However, I don’t think that there has ever been a better time to play us. It should be an even game, but we do need to go there with the attitude and desire for three points.”
Match report by Callum Chadwick.