Match Preview

Following a 6-0 defeat at Bacup Borough last time out, Widnes FC will attempt to bounce back at the very first attempt as Steve Hill’s side welcome Atherton Laburnum Rovers to the Select Security Stadium.

With only six games left to play, Widnes are firmly on the home straight of their third season in the North West Counties Football League, having underachieved for large portions of the season, resulting in Hill’s men approaching the climax of the campaign in lowly 15th position in the First Division.

Hill will be looking for an instant response from his side after their poor showing away at Bacup, in which a 7-minute first half capitulation resulted in Widnes heading in at the halftime break 6-0 down. A better second half performance followed, but meant little as the final whistle was blown.

The visitors, Atherton LR, sit two places below Widnes in 17th position, second from bottom ahead of Whitchurch Alport. Atherton come into the game in a poor run of form having failed to win a game in 2016, with their last victory coming via a 3-1 win over Chadderton on October 31st, 150 days ago as of time of writing.

It has been a season to forget for Atherton, with results regularly not going their way including 10-1 and 6-0 defeats to Cheadle Town and Barnton in recent weeks. However, they’ll be looking to end their season as positively as possible, beginning with this Saturday’s game.

LR have performed well in recent encounters with Widnes however, all but one of the previous four meetings between the two sides. Atherton did the double over Hill’s team last season.

After their defeat last time out, Widnes manager Hill is likely to reshuffle his side ahead of hosting LR. Tony Wynne is set to return to the 16-man squad after being unavailable for the trip to Bacup on Saturday.

Ronnie McCarthy is set to start for Widnes having come on as a halftime substitute in the defeat at Bacup after arriving late to the game due to a puncture on the motorway. McCarthy was one of Widnes’ standout performers in an otherwise day to forget and is in good form, having netted a brace in his side’s previous game, a 5-0 win at Eccleshall.

Striker John Murphy, who signed from Gatecare Village FC on Transfer Deadline Day, could make his debut in this game.

Hill may opt to switch to a back-four after starting with a back-three in recent outings. However, this will depend on squad availability following the losses of defenders Corey Mason (to 1874 Northwich) and Ben Cartwright (to Colwyn Bay) prior to last Thursday’s transfer deadline.

With both sides struggling for form and languishing towards the foot of the table, manager Hill insists his side need victories desperately.

"We need to think about going unbeaten now until the end of the season.

"We've underachieved and that's down to me as a manager," admitted Hill.

"I know they're down there with us and we want three points but need to take it game by game.

"We can't be complacent because I don't think we're good enough to be complacent."