Widnes FC endured a frustrating end to a run of two games in three days as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a hard-working Cheadle Town side as Monday Night Football returned to the Select Security Stadium.

Widnes were looking to pick up their first win of the new season following a 3-2 defeat at home to Ashton Town on the opening day before a Luke Edwards brace rescued a point at Stockport Town just 48 hours prior to the visit of Cheadle. However, they fell behind to a Richard Whyatt on the stroke of half-time despite enjoying long periods of possession and although Alex Davies equalised on the hour-mark, the hosts could not force a winner.

Widnes manager Steve Hill reshuffled his line-up ahead of his side’s return home with George McGrogan replacing the unavailable striker Josh Williams. McGrogan was placed into a back-three alongside Jordan Stanley and captain Tom Mitchell, with Danny Lomax and Paul Carney moving into a five-man midfield.

The opening 10 minutes was a scrappy affair, with Widnes’ Tom Hackett and Cheadle’s Jonathan McLaughlin trying their luck from distance with their efforts not troubling either goalkeeper.

After an uneventful 19 minutes of play, Widnes should have taken the lead. Luke Edwards’ corner from the right was beautifully weighted towards the back-post where the ball was met by the head of unmarked defender Jordan Stanley, who couldn’t capitalise on his opportunity as he headed wide. Moments later, Cheadle ‘keeper Stephen Piggott got down well to deny a fierce drive towards goal from the boot of Edwards.

Midway through the opening period, Paul Carney played the ball into the feet of Danny Burthem, whose curling effort towards the top corner was caught by Piggott, who pulled off a save for the cameras.

Shortly before half-time, Widnes again wasted a great opportunity to take the lead. The hosts went on a counter-attack with Burthem bursting down the right before whipping the ball towards an unmarked Paul Carney who was arriving at the back post. However, Carney miss-hit his effort, side-footing the ball across the face of goal and wide.

After Widnes failed to make the most of their dominance of possession and confidence on the ball, Cheadle took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Against the run of play, Chris Sherrington’s looping effort towards goal was sensationally tipped on to the bar by Gage Walsh, who then got down well to deny the rebound from Jonathan Rawlings before Richard Whyatt bundled the ball over the line to give the hosts the lead.

Halftime: Widnes 0-1 Cheadle Town

The hosts went into the break undeservedly a goal down. However, their play was pleasing on the eye, with Hill’s side playing some very good football that was always positive.

Widnes started the second-half in similar fashion to which they played out the first, with dominance over possession and confidence with the ball, zipping passes from man-to-man. Danny Lomax was the first to test ‘keeper Piggott who saved well from the midfielder.

A minute later, Widnes again spurned a glorious opportunity to open up their account on the scoreboard. It was a terrific delivery from Edwards with the ball finding its way again to an unmarked Stanley at the back-post, who couldn’t direct his effort goal wards, missing the target.

Widnes began to apply pressure. Burthem’s free-kick fell to the feet of Edwards who saw his shot blocked before Stanley saw his rebound whistle wide of the post.

Widnes’ persistence going forward eventually paid-off as they equalised on the hour-mark. Edwards sent Jamil Campbell-Joseph on his way down the right-hand side with the latter expertly pulling his cross back into the path of an unmarked Alex Davies, who hooked his effort into the back of the net at the far post.

Widnes then raised their game and aimed to put the game to bed. Tom Hackett played the ball wide to Carney, who fizzed a shot towards goal that forced a great save out of the outstretched Piggott.

This seemed to breathe some life into the visitors as Luke Hincks went on a lung-busting run before diverting the ball into the path of Sherrington, who drove the ball over the top from an acute angle.

Widnes then came close to taking the lead. Luke Edwards’ free-kick from just outside the area was floated in towards the back-post with the ball being headed back into the 6-yard area begging to be forced home. However, Cheadle managed to hack the ball away.

Both sides were pushing for all three points, with Cheadle playing considerably better football since conceding the equaliser. A corner from the right fell to Liam Tongue who drilled his effort wide of Widnes ‘keeper Gage Walsh’s post.

Widnes struck the post five minutes from time. Alex Davies was inches away from netting his second of the game, as a drop of the shoulder opened up space for a shot that cannoned back off the post.

With seconds remaining in stoppage time, Widnes had their hearts in their mouths as defender Stanley brought down Town’s Darryl Mason right on the edge of the box, with many in attendance believing it to be inside the area but referee Andrew Cottrell disagreed. Luckily for the hosts, the set-piece was wasted and the final whistle was blown seconds later.

Fulltime: Widnes 1-1 Cheadle Town

Widnes manager Steve Hill felt that his side’s performance warranted all three points. “I thought the game was a good advertisement for non-league football. Credit to Cheadle, it makes two good teams to make a good game. I think that we deserved to pick up all three points, but having said that, you need to stick the ball in the net, it’s not going to walk in by itself. We just needed to be a bit more clinical going forward.”

Widnes have two consecutive away games ahead before they return to the Select Security Stadium on September 5th as they welcome NWCFL newcomers Whitchurch Alport. Prior to that, Widnes will travel to Stoke-on-Trent to take on last season’s playoff finalists Hanley Town at Abbey Lane this coming Saturday (22nd August). KO 3pm.

Subs not used: Williams, Casson, Cork.

Cheadle Town: Piggott, McLaughlin, Pearson, Trucca ©, Tongue, MacAuley, Mason, Hincks, Rawlings (Nolan 70), Whyatt, Sherrington (Magida 82).

Subs not used: Kennedy, Rathburn, Horan.