After making a flying start to 2016 last week, Widnes FC will look to build on their 5-2 win against Bacup Borough as Hanley Town visit the Select Security Stadium this coming Saturday.

A brace from Tom Hackett and further strikes from Ronnie McCarthy, Luke Edwards and Tony Wynne ensured that Widnes ended a 10-game winless streak that began following the 6-1 win over Stockport Town in early October.

Having picked up their first win in nearly three months, Hill and his side entertain Hanley Town rejuvenated with renewed confidence. The game also holds extra added incentive for Widnes, as the visitors from Staffordshire have beaten the Whites on two separate occasions thus far this season, in league and cup action at Abbey Lane.

In August, Town edged Widnes 4-3 in an early league encounter. In November, the two sides met in the First Round of the Reusch First Division Cup, with Hanley coming out on top yet again, this time by virtue of a 2-1 victory.

Hanley head into 2016 with the aim of earning promotion to the North West Counties Football League Premier Division. 2015 saw Town reach the inaugural First Division playoff final before agonisingly coming up short at AFC Darwen, and they’ll be looking to take that next step in 2016.

Town come into this game having been victims of the weather in recent months. Since the cup meeting between these two sides in early November, Hanley have only played three games, picking up the maximum nine points in those fixtures.

Despite lacking games in recent weeks, Town remain in third-place, having picked up 34 points from only 14 games. Hanley sit two points behind league leaders Cheadle Town, and a point behind second-placed Barnton having played six and five games less than those clubs respectively. This means that it could be argued that the visitors are favourites for the title.

Team News

Widnes skipper Tom Mitchell and fellow defender Paul Carney are both available for the visit of Hanley after missing out on the win over Bacup Borough. Mitchell missed out through suspension whilst Carney was unavailable. Both players are likely to be inserted into the starting lineup.

Also available again are Braian Strutz-Rivelli and keeper Grant Hartley who could return to the squad, whilst debuts could be handed to Jordan Wright and Ryan Wilde who have signed for Widnes in recent weeks.

Striker Theo Stair is firmly Hanley's dangerman. Stair has an impressive goalscoring record since Town joined the NWCFL in 2013, with 15 to his name this season.

History

Including this season’s two earlier meetings, the two sides have played each on six separate occasions since both teams were granted entry to the North West Counties Football League in 2013. Hanley have won all six meetings, outscoring Widnes 18-11.

Manager’s Thoughts

Widnes manager Steve Hill believes that his side’s previous two meetings with Hanley this season should provide them with an added bit of confidence heading into Saturday’s game.

He said: “It should give us a little boost of added confidence.

“Hanley Town are a good side but we need to pickup next week where we left off this week and hopefully we can get on the right end of the result this time around.

"I thought the last time we played them, that we were unlucky. Hopefully we'll be able to put that right this weekend. They are a good side though. With the way the table has formed and with the games in hand they have, they could easily go on and win the league for me."