Congleton Town 0-5 Widnes

Widnes FC turned on the style in their second pre-season friendly, as a double from Dale-Korie Butler, and further strikes from Luke Edwards and two trialists ensured that Widnes ran out 5-0 winners over Hallmark Security League Premier Division side Congleton Town at the Richborough Estates Stadium.

Widnes’ clinical finishing and probing offensive firepower proved to be too much for The Bears to handle, as Danny Meadowcroft and Brian Pritchard’s side went on to impressively rout the hosts on the day.
Meadowcroft and Pritchard took the opportunity to field four trialists in their 19-man squad that travelled to Congleton, with Luke Colford being named amongst the substitutes for his first outing of pre-season.

Unlike many pre-season friendlies, the action in the opening stages of the game were particularly frantic, and would perhaps be more accustomed to a league fixture as both sides surged forward with pace. Despite this, both sides were held to half-chances, with Congleton skipper Declan Fletcher forcing a decent save out of Widnes goalkeeper Richie Mottram.

Widnes took the lead on the 12-minute mark. A simple and direct attack from Widnes lead to the opener as Mottram’s long-ball forward was flicked on by James McShane allowing Trialist, who donned the number 9 shirt for Widnes and looked lively throughout the game, to race clear before rounding the keeper and slotting the ball home to put Widnes ahead.

Just under 10 minutes later, Widnes doubled their lead. Two of Meadowcroft and Pritchard’s summer signings combined as James McShane’s initial effort was deflected towards the feet of Dale Korie-Butler, who turned the ball home on the half-volley to give the visitors a deserved 2-0 lead.

The game settled down following the midway point of the first half, with Widnes gaining control of possession. However, Congleton grew into the game as the half went on with skipper Fletcher getting away from Widnes full-back Joe Fielding before fizzing a dangerous ball in towards the back-post that took a terrific interception from central defender Mike Burke to avert any danger.

Halftime: Congleton Town 0-2 Widnes

Joint Managers Meadowcroft and Pritchard made three changes at the break, with Matty Rigby and two further trialists being introduced with a chance to impress the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season.

Widnes restarted the second-half well and picked up where they left off as their lead was increased to 3-0. Richie Mottram’s punt forward was brought down by Luke J Edwards, who quickly released Korie-Butler who kept his composure to net his second of the afternoon, finding the bottom corner with his finish.

More changes followed for Widnes, with Paul Carney, Luke Colford, Jordan Stafford and Tunde Owolabi being brought on for Joe Fielding, Luke J Edwards, Mike Burke and Trialist who bagged the game’s opening goal in an impressive 56-minute run out.

Congleton, despite the 3-0 deficit, kept going and came close to pulling a goal back on the hour-mark. Fullback Lee Jackson rose highest, towering above Colford to direct a header against the frame of the goal with Town’s best chance of the game.

A big chance for the hosts followed. Widnes were again put under pressure with the ball being struck towards goal only for substitute Carney to make a magnificent challenge to deflect the ball wide and away from danger.

Despite the short period of sustained Congleton pressure, Widnes effectively put the challenge of the hosts to bed 23 minutes from time with a fourth goal of the afternoon. A Trialist again found the net, as Widnes man evaded the offside trap and burst through the Congleton defence before diverting his shot beneath the Bears keeper and into the back of the net.

A fifth goal followed two minutes later in what was a quick-fire double for the visitors. Winger Luke Edwards, who was Widnes’ top goalscorer last season with 16 goals, met a delivery into the area from Paul Carney with his head to give Widnes a formidable 5-0 lead.

Despite having a very comfortable 5-0 lead, Widnes didn’t look to be finished and should have added a sixth 10 minutes from time as unmarked defender Tom Mitchell headed a teasing cross from Carney wide from inside the 6-yard area.

The visitors still had time to rattle the woodwork. Edwards linked up with the scorer of Widnes’ fourth goal Trialist, with the latter again getting in behind the Congleton backline, before attempting to round the goalkeeper. The ball was deflected off the body of the on-rushing Bears’ shot-stopper, but the ball sat up nicely for the substitute who was mightily unlucky to hit the post from 25 yards out.

Fulltime: Congleton Town 0-5 Widnes

For Widnes, this was a fantastic result that lay down a statement of intent for the season to come. Despite the hosts’ fielding a relatively weaker side, the scoreline was reflective of this, as Widnes looked consistently dangerous going forward and reasonably comfortable for large periods of the afternoon’s proceedings.

Widnes’ pre-season schedule continues with a trip to Vauxhall Motors on Tuesday (19th July). That game, at Rivacre Park, kicks off at 7.15pm.

Widnes: Mottram, Trialist, Fielding (Carney 56), Pollard (Rigby 46), Mitchell, Burke (Colford 56), Korie-Butler (Edwards 68)*, L.J. Edwards (Stafford 56), Trialist (Owolabi 56), McShane (Trialist 46), Edwards (Trialist 46).

Subs not used: Hartley.

*Luke Edwards was reintroduced as a substitute despite being taken off at half-time due to roll on/roll off substitutes being in effect.