REPORT | Northwich Victoria 1-0 Widnes

Widnes exited the Emirates FA Cup at the Extra Preliminary Round stage for the second successive season with a 1-0 replay defeat to Northwich Victoria after extra time on Wednesday night.

John Connolly struck the 96th minute to book Northwich a date with Burscough in the Preliminary Round a week on Saturday.

In truth, Widnes were at second best for large periods of the cup-tie and were ultimately beaten in extra time after neither side could muster a breakthrough in 90 minutes.

Widnes made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Vics on Saturday. Jay Roberts missed out with a knee injury as Jack Graham came in at right-back.

Elsewhere, Sam Sheen and Chris Lomax both dropped to the bench as Michael Grogan and Kev Pollard both returned to the side while Bram Johnstone came in for Phil Doran.

Widnes started well but couldn’t find an opener. Ben Hodkinson headed over after meeting Johnstone’s floated cross while Danny Ventre’s dangerous corner narrowly evaded a yellow shirt in the penalty area.

Vics goalkeeper Danny Taberner was called into action midway through the half as Ventre found George Lomax with a cross but Taberner did well to tip the forward’s looping header over.

Northwich grew into the half but failed to test Widnes goalkeeper Richie Mottram. Joel Brownhill had a deflected effort drift narrowly wide while Connolly couldn’t quite find a teammate with his cross after combining well with Dominic Craig.

Steve Wilkes’ Trickies carried their momentum into the second half but lacked quality in the final third. could only shoot straight at Mottram before Connolly dragged an effort wide minutes later.

Widnes co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey introduced Chris Lomax from the bench on the hour in search of an elusive opener, and it was the winger who had the visitors’ best chance of the half.

Grogan picked out Lomax in acres of space on the right-flank, and the winger cut inside to fire a powerful effort on goal that took a slight deflection on its way wide.

Towey came off the bench and looked to make a positive impact but it was strike-partner Hodkinson who almost won it for Widnes in added time, firing an effort towards the top corner only for Taberner to make a great diving save at full-stretch to take the game into extra time.

It was Towey who came close to providing the game with a much-needed opening goal four minutes into the first period of extra time, cutting inside to hit a rocket that grazed the top of the crossbar on its way over.

Widnes were in the ascendancy as Grogan nodded into the grateful gloves of Taberner but it was Northwich who would take the lead with a goal out of nothing.

Graham was caught in possession for Widnes and a long ball was punted forward towards Connolly who had stolen a march on Johnstone to bring the ball down brilliantly before slotting beyond the on-rushing Mottram.

Sheen and Tom Croughan were brought off the bench to provide fresh legs in the second period for a Widnes side that were facing an early exit from the FA Cup.

Widnes’ best chance fell to George Lomax who managed to get free of his marker only for Kirtis Monson to recover well and make a good recovery challenge, aided by Taberner and Kieran Kenny despite the striker’s appeals for handball.

Croughan then had a shot blocked, but that was to be Widnes’ final attempt of the night as they bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup.