Widnes 1-1 Rochdale Town

Widnes FC ended a five game losing streak on Saturday afternoon as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Rochdale Town. However, the result ensures that The Whites remain without a win in their last nine games in all competitions.

Rochdale took an early lead as Liam Bennion headed home from inside the 6-yard area before Jamie Casson equalised 10 minutes later for Widnes with his first goal for the club, finding the net with a volley from an acute angle.

The game ended with late drama as Widnes skipper Tom Mitchell and Rochdale keeper Dean Williams were both sent off for violent conduct in added time.

Widnes manager Steve Hill made two changes to the side that lost 8-0 against Everton in the quarter-final of the Liverpool Senior Cup two weeks ago. Daniel Wilson made his debut alongside captain Tom Mitchell in the back-four, replacing Jamil Campbell-Joseph whilst Tom Hackett returned from a 3-month injury layoff, starting upfront in place of Tony Wynne.

Danny Lomax made his 50th appearance for the club, becoming the fourth player in the club’s history to achieve the feat, following Alex Davies, Tom Mitchell and Paul Carney.

Widnes went behind early as Rochdale took a 4th minute lead. Town captain Alex Dibley drifted a corner into towards the back post with the ball being nodded back into the 6-yard box where Liam Bennion was on-hand to head the ball into the back of the net despite Jamie Casson’s best efforts to clear the ball off the line.

Widnes quickly responded as they equalised 10 minutes later. It was an excellent team goal as Widnes played the ball out of the back-four to Alex Davies, who lifted a pass over the top allowing Jamie Casson to run on to the ball before volleying the ball into the back of the net from an acute angle, beating Town keeper Dean Williams at the near post. Casson’s strike was his first goal for the club since arriving prior to pre-season.

Rochdale looked threatening on the counter-attack as Gareth Hill burst forward on the near-side, pulling the ball back into the path of leading goalscorer Jonny Thompson who couldn’t quite get his shot away as Widnes shot-stopper Ben Morrow was out quickly to make the save.

Tom Hackett, who showed little to no rustiness for Widnes as he returned from a prolonged absence through injury, came close to marking his return with a goal as he ambitiously tried his luck from 30 yards out as his shot sailed inches over the bar.

Town continued to flex their muscles on the counter-attack as Bennion raced away from the chasing debutant Wilson before cutting inside and wasting his opportunity, firing high and wide from the edge of the area.

Widnes should have taken the lead 10 minutes before the interval. Luke Edwards linked up with Paul Carney as the latter delivered a delicious ball into the 6-yard area in towards Jamie Casson, who should have doubled his account for the game but he couldn’t quite get on the end of Carney’s delivery.

Rochdale then came mightily close to taking the lead themselves. Jonny Thompson picked up the ball in midfield before engineering space for a shot that whistled through the air before cannoning back off the crossbar. It was an absolute rocket from Thompson that would have produced some goal had the bar not come to Widnes’ rescue.

Halftime: Widnes 1-1 Rochdale Town

The heavy rainfall that showed no signs of relenting in the first half continued into the second period as Widnes threatened offensively inside the opening seconds of the half. Edwards pulled the ball back to Hackett who laid the ball off to Paul Carney whose powerful strike towards goal was well-saved by keeper Williams.

Town then came close themselves as earlier scorer Bennion turned away from Wilson, allowing himself bags of time as he rushed towards goal. However, Morrow reacted quickly and came an awfully long way before proving that his decision was the right one, as he promptly tackled Bennion and averted any danger in the process.

As the game went on, the weather and quality of the football on show gradually declined as both sides were held to half-chances. Widnes’ Edwards and Rochdale’s Dibley both fired over prior to the hour-mark.

Town came close to taking the lead on the hour-mark. Hill drifted a cross into the middle that was met by the head of the unmarked Bennion, who couldn’t direct his header on target. Bennion probably should have done better.

Both sides pushed for a winner late in the game. Widnes switched to 3-5-2 with Edwards partnering Hackett up-front as Carney and Davies pushed forward onto the flanks. Rochdale’s Thompson forced a decent save out of Morrow before Davies lofted a free-kick over the top from 25 yards out.

Widnes should have netted a winner three minutes from time. Edwards picked out Paul Carney who made a magnificent run into the penalty area, finding himself one-on-one with Williams inside the 6-yard area but he couldn’t make his chance count, as he fired over.

The game ended with late drama as both sides were reduced to 10-men. From a Widnes corner, Tom Mitchell and Town keeper Dean Williams appeared to clash with the former going down in a heap in the penalty area. After the referee consulted his assistant, Williams was sent off for violent conduct as he appeared to lash out at Mitchell, who was sent-off himself for a second yellow card for his part in the incident.

Fulltime: Widnes 1-1 Rochdale Town

A draw was probably a fair result in the end, as both sides showed enough of themselves to win the game but just couldn’t make their chances count.

Widnes continue their run of four consecutive home games as they welcome second-placed Barnton to the Select Security Stadium this coming Saturday. Barnton are managed by former Chelsea, Brighton and Swansea forward Leon Knight. The last time the two sides met, an Alex Davies free-kick separated the two sides as Widnes upset the league’s early pacesetters in mid September.

Widnes: Morrow, Davies, Carney, Wilson, Mitchell (C), Cartwright, Casson, Lomax, Hackett, McCarthy (Burthem 63), Edwards.

Subs not used: Strutz-Rivelli, Clarke.

Rochdale Town: Williams, Little (Smith 90), Fitton, Carey, Kershaw, Astley, Dibley (Carey 87), Burgess, Bennion, Thompson, Hill (Alfrey 69).

Subs not used: Alessandra.