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Sat 08 Nov 2014 · Division One
Atherton LR
First Team
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Widnes slump to third consecutive league defeat as poor run goes on.
Widnes Football Club16 Nov 2014 - 11:44
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Goals from Thomas Booth and a penalty from substitute Joshua Melling handed Atherton LR a 2-0 win over Widnes FC.
This defeat signals the third consecutive league defeat for Ste Hill’s side and their fifth league game without a win.
The home side came into the game looking to bounce back from a poor run of form of their own. They had won just one of their last five league games as they looked to compound more misery on Widnes this season, having won the reverse fixture in September at the Select Security Stadium 3-2.
Laburnum Rovers started the game the stronger on the long and boggy surface that was lucky to be in a good enough condition to host the game. Despite the early plethora of misplaced passes, LR’s left-back Joe Fielding sent a teasing cross into the area that very nearly met Jack Burke in the penalty area.
Following this, Atherton LR went in front with their first chance of the game. Forward Joel Igenosa delivered a long-ball into the penalty area that a falling down Thomas Booth excellently headed past debutant goalkeeper Ben Morrow with his back to goal. It was a disappointing goal for the Widnes defence to concede so early in the game.
It was an all too familiar start to the game for the away side, as they once again started slowly and failed to gain a foothold in the opening stages of the half. Atherton gained control of the game early, as they were happy to hold on to possession with no much threat of testing Morrow, who was deputising for the injured David Nevitt.
LR were the next to threaten. Midfielder Craig Dickinson tried his luck from distance. However, he failed to test the former Prescot Cables keeper as the ball whistled over the bar.
It was a slow opening to the half, that wasn’t helped by the poor conditions. It was Widnes who were most wasteful in possession, as they failed to create any clear-cut chances as they failed to regularly connect on the simple passes.
The away side should have levelled the game with their first chance of the game. Graham Molloy was gifted a glorious opportunity as a James Ludgate header sent the striker through in on goal. However, Molloy took too long making up his mind, as he fluffed his lines with a tame shot that was saved comfortably by LR goalkeeper Charlie Dorsey. Molloy did appear to be in an offside position when the ball was flicked on, but it wasn’t spotted by the linesman on the far side.
Widnes began to pick up their performance following this golden chance. Molloy was again involved as he took advantage of a defensive mishap involving Kieron Halliwell and goalkeeper Dorsey allowed the striker to play the ball wide to Joel Douglas. Douglas beat Fielding with relative ease, before scuffing his shot and firing wide of the post.
The away side threatened again moments later. Bradley Williams let a shot fly from 25 yards out that very nearly crept into the top corner before Matty Lennon headed a Danny Lomax free-kick over the bar with the last chance of the half.
It was a scrappy affair in the first half, with the poor conditions affecting Widnes a lot more than the home side. They switched to a 3-5-2 formation for the second half, with Mark McLaughlin being introduced in favour of Danny Lomax.
It was McLaughlin who was the main influence in the first chance of the half. His cross from the left looked more like a shot as Dorsey was unsure as he watched the ball go wide of his right-hand post. This chance was another reminder of the similarities between this game and last week’s defeat at home to Rochdale. It just wasn’t falling for Widnes.
Matthew Davies was introduced for the home side as he came on for skipper Paul Smith. He was immediately involved as his shot from just inside the area that was deflected off Ludgate into the hands of a relieved Morrow.
It was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for LR minutes later. A scuffed Bradley Williams corner caused a multitude of problems for the home side’s defence as they eventually managed to clear the ball after it bounced around in the six-yard box.
The home side attempted to come straight back at Widnes with a counter-attack. However, Daniel Garvey was on-hand to make an excellent challenge to stop Atherton in their tracks.
Widnes were inches away from finding an equaliser as youngster Daniel Burns, who had come on for Joel Douglas shortly after the hour-mark, opened up space for a cross with some good footwork. Burns delivered a cross into the 6-yard area that needed a solid challenge from Jamie Forbes to prevent a goal being handed on a silver-platter to Molloy.
Atherton were given a golden opportunity to see off Widnes after substitute Joshua Melling was fouled in the box by defender Garvey shortly before the end of normal time. Melling took the penalty himself and duly converted to double LR’s advantage on the day. It was a moment of poor discipline for Garvey, who had thrown himself about a couple of times in the lead up to the foul.
Melling nearly added his second and Laburnum Rovers’ third with a shot that was excellently saved by Morrow in what was a solid debut for the young goalkeeper.
Atherton managed to hold on as to pick up all three points and condemn Widnes to their third consecutive league defeat.
Manager Steve Hill was disappointed with his side’s performance. “I thought we were a little bit naïve in the build up to the goals that we giveaway today. While it was 1-0, they had something to hang on to and to be fair to them, they were disciplined in their victory. We were chasing the game towards the end and they caught us with the penalty which the referee got spot on. So we can have no complaints with the result today.”
When questioned about his side’s poor run of form and season thus far, Hill summed up the season in three words. “Could do better. We need to do better. And I was chatting to the lads in there about how they’re young lads and it’s great experience for them but we need to make it a positive experience by winning more games but like I’ve said from day one, I can’t fault their effort as we’re just lacking that bit of quality in the final third as well as in the defensive third that occasionally lets us down.”
Hill ended that statement bluntly by adding, “We need to starting winning otherwise we’ll just sink.”
The defeat sees Widnes remain 14th in the league as they head into Monday’s First Division Trophy tie against Barnton as the Select Security Stadium. Hill played down the importance of the game. “It will be good game despite it being a bit of a distraction. To be honest, I would gladly sacrifice that game on Monday for three points today because it’s points that we’re after and not cup victories. We obviously had a few players missing and sometimes the cup allows players who haven’t been playing to play and that’s a good advantage of it but it’s a distraction in another sense.”
Match report by Callum Chadwick
The home side came into the game looking to bounce back from a poor run of form of their own. They had won just one of their last five league games as they looked to compound more misery on Widnes this season, having won the reverse fixture in September at the Select Security Stadium 3-2.
Laburnum Rovers started the game the stronger on the long and boggy surface that was lucky to be in a good enough condition to host the game. Despite the early plethora of misplaced passes, LR’s left-back Joe Fielding sent a teasing cross into the area that very nearly met Jack Burke in the penalty area.
Following this, Atherton LR went in front with their first chance of the game. Forward Joel Igenosa delivered a long-ball into the penalty area that a falling down Thomas Booth excellently headed past debutant goalkeeper Ben Morrow with his back to goal. It was a disappointing goal for the Widnes defence to concede so early in the game.
It was an all too familiar start to the game for the away side, as they once again started slowly and failed to gain a foothold in the opening stages of the half. Atherton gained control of the game early, as they were happy to hold on to possession with no much threat of testing Morrow, who was deputising for the injured David Nevitt.
LR were the next to threaten. Midfielder Craig Dickinson tried his luck from distance. However, he failed to test the former Prescot Cables keeper as the ball whistled over the bar.
It was a slow opening to the half, that wasn’t helped by the poor conditions. It was Widnes who were most wasteful in possession, as they failed to create any clear-cut chances as they failed to regularly connect on the simple passes.
The away side should have levelled the game with their first chance of the game. Graham Molloy was gifted a glorious opportunity as a James Ludgate header sent the striker through in on goal. However, Molloy took too long making up his mind, as he fluffed his lines with a tame shot that was saved comfortably by LR goalkeeper Charlie Dorsey. Molloy did appear to be in an offside position when the ball was flicked on, but it wasn’t spotted by the linesman on the far side.
Widnes began to pick up their performance following this golden chance. Molloy was again involved as he took advantage of a defensive mishap involving Kieron Halliwell and goalkeeper Dorsey allowed the striker to play the ball wide to Joel Douglas. Douglas beat Fielding with relative ease, before scuffing his shot and firing wide of the post.
The away side threatened again moments later. Bradley Williams let a shot fly from 25 yards out that very nearly crept into the top corner before Matty Lennon headed a Danny Lomax free-kick over the bar with the last chance of the half.
It was a scrappy affair in the first half, with the poor conditions affecting Widnes a lot more than the home side. They switched to a 3-5-2 formation for the second half, with Mark McLaughlin being introduced in favour of Danny Lomax.
It was McLaughlin who was the main influence in the first chance of the half. His cross from the left looked more like a shot as Dorsey was unsure as he watched the ball go wide of his right-hand post. This chance was another reminder of the similarities between this game and last week’s defeat at home to Rochdale. It just wasn’t falling for Widnes.
Matthew Davies was introduced for the home side as he came on for skipper Paul Smith. He was immediately involved as his shot from just inside the area that was deflected off Ludgate into the hands of a relieved Morrow.
It was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for LR minutes later. A scuffed Bradley Williams corner caused a multitude of problems for the home side’s defence as they eventually managed to clear the ball after it bounced around in the six-yard box.
The home side attempted to come straight back at Widnes with a counter-attack. However, Daniel Garvey was on-hand to make an excellent challenge to stop Atherton in their tracks.
Widnes were inches away from finding an equaliser as youngster Daniel Burns, who had come on for Joel Douglas shortly after the hour-mark, opened up space for a cross with some good footwork. Burns delivered a cross into the 6-yard area that needed a solid challenge from Jamie Forbes to prevent a goal being handed on a silver-platter to Molloy.
Atherton were given a golden opportunity to see off Widnes after substitute Joshua Melling was fouled in the box by defender Garvey shortly before the end of normal time. Melling took the penalty himself and duly converted to double LR’s advantage on the day. It was a moment of poor discipline for Garvey, who had thrown himself about a couple of times in the lead up to the foul.
Melling nearly added his second and Laburnum Rovers’ third with a shot that was excellently saved by Morrow in what was a solid debut for the young goalkeeper.
Atherton managed to hold on as to pick up all three points and condemn Widnes to their third consecutive league defeat.
Manager Steve Hill was disappointed with his side’s performance. “I thought we were a little bit naïve in the build up to the goals that we giveaway today. While it was 1-0, they had something to hang on to and to be fair to them, they were disciplined in their victory. We were chasing the game towards the end and they caught us with the penalty which the referee got spot on. So we can have no complaints with the result today.”
When questioned about his side’s poor run of form and season thus far, Hill summed up the season in three words. “Could do better. We need to do better. And I was chatting to the lads in there about how they’re young lads and it’s great experience for them but we need to make it a positive experience by winning more games but like I’ve said from day one, I can’t fault their effort as we’re just lacking that bit of quality in the final third as well as in the defensive third that occasionally lets us down.”
Hill ended that statement bluntly by adding, “We need to starting winning otherwise we’ll just sink.”
The defeat sees Widnes remain 14th in the league as they head into Monday’s First Division Trophy tie against Barnton as the Select Security Stadium. Hill played down the importance of the game. “It will be good game despite it being a bit of a distraction. To be honest, I would gladly sacrifice that game on Monday for three points today because it’s points that we’re after and not cup victories. We obviously had a few players missing and sometimes the cup allows players who haven’t been playing to play and that’s a good advantage of it but it’s a distraction in another sense.”
Match report by Callum Chadwick
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