REPORT: Skelmersdale United 1-2 Widnes

Widnes FC recorded a memorable victory on Tuesday night in the Liverpool Senior Cup at Stormy Corner, home of Skelmersdale United FC.

Massive underdogs against their Evo-Stik Premier League opponents, every Widnes player was a credit to the club as they put in a remarkably gritty performance, littered with moments of quality to take a deserved victory.

Widnes were missing influential players Michael Burke, Danny Hand & Joe Fielding for trip to Skelmersdale, but you wouldn’t have thought it as the squad was utilised perfectly.

In the opening stages, Widnes were penned in as Skem had a lot of the ball and were looking very threatening with their intricate and pacey play around the Widnes box, but the Widnes players were showing great discipline in sticking to their tasks,

On 16 Minutes, Skem had a chance after great play put the striker into the box but Mottram was at hand to make a great instinctive save. Mottram was by far the busier of the two keepers early on, but looked assured in everything he did.

On 26 minutes however, all the good work was undone. An innocuous looking cross was floated into the box, and unchallenged Mottram decided to punch the ball only to see it fly into the roof of the net for 1-0 to the hosts.

The reaction of the Widnes players was first class, and they set about their jobs once again.

Skem had a glorious chance to increase their lead when Mottram was on hand to make a brilliant save to his left, the ball squirmed out to the Skem right back who only had to tap it into an open goal, but inexplicably put it over from 6 yards.

As the half wore on Widnes grew into the game and George and Chris Lomax along with Kev Towey were starting to get on the ball and cause Skem problems of their own.

The equaliser duly came on 32 minutes. A great move involving Luke J Edwards and Chris Lomax ended with a wicked cross across the face of goal evading everyone except Kev Towey who was waiting at the back post to tap it in.

Halftime: Skelmersdale United 1 Widnes 1

The second half started much the same as the first half with Skem having most of the play in their own half but the noticable difference was that Widnes seemed to have the shackles off a bit and were causing Skem a lot more; the difference was clear to see.

On 59 Minutes Widnes had a great chance to take the lead when Chris Lomax, who was enjoying a great spell got free inside the box only to see his right foot shot hit the post and go wide.

Skelmersdale made changes to go and win the game and as such it was becoming more end to end, but the Widnes defence looked rock solid and on 80 Minutes Widnes took the deserved lead.

Luke Edwards miscued his effort from 12 yards that looked a certain goal, but the ball fell to Towey, who spun and smashed the ball into the roof of the net for 1-2.

The next ten minutes seemed to drag on forever as Skem threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Widnes, but without too much to worry Mottram, the Whites held out for a great win.

Full Time: Skelmersdale United 1 Widnes 2

A superb evening all round for the Whites at a very chilly Stormy Corner.

A lot of credit must go to the lads who with their backs to the wall early on were a credit to themselves and the club throughout the 90 minutes.

In their next outing, Widnes have a home fixture on Saturday 5th November v Prestwich Heys in the Reusch Cup, KO 14.00.

Widnes: Richie Mottram, Jack Graham, Jamie Harkness (Nathan Quinlan), Oladimeji Odesanya, Tom Mitchell, Kev Pollard ©, Luke J Edwards, Sam Sheen, George Lomax, Kev Towey (Tom Freeman), Chris Lomax