REPORT: Winsford United 1-2 Widnes

Widnes FC booked a tie with Abbey Hey or Barnoldswick Town in the last eight of the Macron Cup thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hallmark Security League Premier Division side Winsford United on Monday night at St Luke’s Barton Stadium.

An evenly matched first half saw the sides go in level at the break after both teams missed good chances in the lead up to the interval.

Widnes broke the deadlock shortly after the hour-mark as Kev Towey finished well from close-range before Jordan Johnson equalised eight minutes later for the hosts.

Winsford player/manager Lee Duckworth was sent off 12 minutes from time after a clash with Chris Lomax, but the two sides still couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes with extra-time needed to decide a winner.

With a penalty shootout looming, Widnes were awarded a 115th minute spot-kick, with Towey duly converted for his 25th goal of the season, booking Widnes’ place in the quarter-finals.

Widnes manager Joey Dunn made two changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Holker Old Boys, with Adam Weston coming in for Sam Sheen who was cup-tied, and Mike Burke returned to the side replacing the unavailable Daniel Hand.

Meanwhile, former Runcorn Linnets and Mold Alexandra striker Ross McDowell was named amongst the substitutes, potentially in line of his debut after signing for the Club last week.

It was the away side who had the better of the opening 10 minutes as brothers George and Chris Lomax both forced comfortably saves out of Winsford ‘keeper Michael Langley early on.

It took a quarter of an hour for Widnes to create their first real chance as Kev Towey’s deep free-kick was headed down by Steve Akrigg, into the path of Mike Burke who volleyed over from close-range.

The hosts grew into the game and looked dangerous on the break. Jordan Johnson lead the charge for Winsford, switching play wide to Scott Taylor, but his effort whistled across the face of goal and wide.

The first half was fairly even, but Widnes began to take control of the tie as the opening 45 minutes drew to a close. Jack Graham released the industrious George Lomax and then received a pass from Lomax inside the area, but couldn’t hit the target with his effort.

Following a well-contested first half, it took nine minutes for any real action to occur after the break as Widnes spurned yet another good chance, as Kev Towey missed the target after linking up with Adam Weston.

Two minutes after the hour-mark, Widnes took a deserved lead. Kev Towey raced on to a superb ball over the top from Adam Weston, allowing Towey to race away from the Winsford backline before finishing neatly at the near-post.

After falling behind, Winsford raised their game and began to put Widnes under pressure. Richie Mottram – who won the Macron Cup with Winsford with 2011 – was on-hand to produce a brilliant save to tip a long-range Johnson effort around the post.

Minutes later, Mottram did well to block a goalbound Scott Taylor shot, before Tom Mitchell was in the right place, at the right time to hook the loose ball off the line.

Winsford capitalised on their good spell and equalised on the 70-minute mark. A long-ball over the top allowed Jordan Johnson to get the better of the Widnes back-three, before slotting the ball home beneath the on-rushing Mottram.

The hosts were reduced to 10-men eight minutes later. Winsford player/manager Lee Duckworth clashed with Chris Lomax, before appearing to slap the Widnes winger leaving referee David Croft with little choice but to show the red card.

Both sides were starting to push for a winner during the last 10 minutes, but both keepers produced terrific saves time ticked away. Langley pulled off a superb stop from a Jack Graham effort, before a brilliant reaction save from Mottram down the other end prevented Arron Kirk from netting a late winner.

The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes so extra time was needed to separate the two sides. Immediately, Widnes were on the front foot as the tired legs of Winsford struggled with their one-man disadvantage.

Towey could only shoot into the gloves of Langley after good work from Chris Lomax, before substitute Tom Freeman raced onto a Graham pass and forced yet another save out of the impressive Winsford shot-stopper.

The crossbar then prevented Widnes from a winner on the 94 minute mark, as the ball ricocheted around in the 6-yard area before Steve Akrigg turned a shot against the bar from close-range.

After a surviving a catalogue of close-calls, Winsford looked to be content with settling for a penalty shootout, before conceding a spot-kick five minutes from time in the second period of extra time.

Winsford’s Sam Parr conceded the penalty, as his ‘tired’ challenge brought down Chris Lomax in the area, who was brought down by Parr’s outstretched leg.

Earlier goalscorer Kev Towey stepped up, and hammered home his 25th goal of the season from 12 yards out, sparking scenes of celebration for the away side.

Widnes were denied a third goal in the final seconds. Tom Freeman could only roll a shot against the foot of the post, before the ball rolled agonizingly along the line before Adam Bayley hooked the ball away, denying the youngster his first goal for the Club.

Widnes’ victory after extra time secured their first-ever passage into the last eight of the Macron Cup, marking their sixth win in their last seven games in all competitions.

Next up for Joey Dunn’s side is a tough double-header over the weekend as Widnes face two of the First Division’s top three sides.

Widnes travel to Charnock Richard in the quarter-final of the Reusch First Division Cup on Saturday, before hosting City of Liverpool in their return to league action on Monday 5th December.

Widnes: Richie Mottram, Joe Fielding (Tom Freeman 90), Adam Weston, Tom Mitchell (Ross McDowell 105), Mike Burke, Steve Akrigg, Kev Towey, Luke J Edwards, George Lomax, Jack Graham, Chris Lomax.

Subs not used: Nathan Quinlan, Oladimeji Odesanya.