Widnes FC will be looking to continue their recent upturn in form as they welcome North West Counties Football League newcomers Stockport Town to the Select Security Stadium as the club marks National Non League Day.

To mark Non League Day, the club are offering a discounted £2 admission fee for season ticket holders of Premier League and Championship clubs, who are not in action due to the International break. The discount also applies to season ticket holders and stronghold members at Widnes Vikings. The discount will be offered granted that the supporter shows their respective club’s season ticket upon entry into the stadium.

Widnes come into the game in reasonably good form. Steve Hill’s side have only lost one of their last four league games, last week’s 4-3 defeat at Chadderton. The Whites comfortably beat Ashton Town 3-0 in their last fixture on Monday Night in the Liverpool Senior Cup thanks to a debut goal from defender Calum Finch, and further strikes from Tony Wynne and Luke Edwards.

Stockport Town have adapted to life in the NWCFL remarkably well. Calum Sykes’ side currently sit in an automatic promotion spot in the First Division, having rocketed up the table due to their form as of late. Town are unbeaten in their last 6 games in all competitions, winning 4 of their last 5 contests in the league.
Last time out, Stockport ran out comfortable 4-1 winners over fellow newcomers Whitchurch Alport. Nathan Neequaye, Luke Podmore and a brace from Ruben Abreu secured all 3 points for Town against the Shropshire-based outfit.

Team News

Manager Hill has a virtually full squad to choose from ahead of the visit of Stockport. Ronnie McCarthy will definitely miss out for Widnes, as he continues to serve a 3-match suspension after receiving a red card in the defeat at Chadderton for violent conduct. Tom Hackett is a major doubt, as he continues to nurse an ankle injury picked up in a 3-2 at Northwich Manchester Villa last month.

Hill is expected to field the same eleven that started against Ashton Town, with Calum Finch and Jamie Casson keeping their places in the back-four. Jordan Stanley was an unused substitute on Monday night, and will be vying for a recall alongside Michael Chojnicki and Braian Strutz-Rivelli, who were both left out of the 16-man squad that faced Ashton.

New signing Daniel Norris could be in line to make his first appearance for the club on Saturday, having been named amongst the substitutes on Monday night.

History

The two sides met earlier in the season at Stockport Sports Village, with the game ending in a fair 2-2 draw. Luke Edwards twice equalised in that game for Widnes, after goals from Ben Connolly and Joseph Armstrong either side of Edwards’ initial leveller had the hosts in dreamland in their first-ever NWCFL home game.