Widnes 4-1 Atherton LR

A brace from Ronnie McCarthy alongside further goals from Luke Edwards and Tunde Owolabi ensured that Widnes FC came from behind to defeat second-bottom Atherton LR 4-1 at the Select Security Stadium.

It was comfortable in the end for Widnes, but they certainly didn’t have it all their own way. Second-bottom Atherton produced a valiant performance that was ultimately let-down by a stupid second half sending off. The visitors took the lead against the run of play as the game approached the midway point of the first half through Danny Kerr before Luke Edwards headed in an equaliser for his side 10 minutes later.

Following the break, LR forward Nial Callaghan was sent off for a second bookable offence for kicking the ball away early in the second half after receiving a yellow card in the first half for dissent. From this point onwards, Widnes never looked back as Tunde Owolabi gave Widnes the lead before two goals from Ronnie McCarthy, including a 90th minute penalty completed the win for Widnes.

Widnes manager Steve Hill made three changes to his side that lost comprehensively at Bacup Borough last time out. Braian Strutz-Rivelli, Tony Wynne and Ronnie McCarthy came in for Danny Wilson, Elliot Toner and Tom Hackett respectively, with the latter two players dropping to the bench.

Widnes began the game well. Luke Edwards linked up with Jamil Campbell-Joseph who forced an early save out of Atherton keeper Ashley Whittle before Tunde Owolabi turned the rebound wide.

However, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play. A long ball forward was cushioned down by Callaghan to the feet of Danny Kerr, who fired a 25-yard shot at goal that crept into the back of the net, beating the outstretched Widnes keeper Ben Morrow at his near post.

This began a short spell where the visitors were firmly on top. Jordyn Fitton saw a free-kick comfortably gathered by Morrow before Callaghan and Kerr forced further saves out of the Widnes shot-stopper.

Despite this spell, Widnes equalised shortly before the half-hour mark. Ronnie McCarthy floated a free-kick into the 6-yard area that was headed home by the unmarked Luke Edwards, who rose highest to nod in his 14th goal of the season.

Widnes failed to convert a glorious chance to take the lead minutes later. Edwards burst forward down the left for the hosts, drilling a cross across the face of goal towards Tony Wynne who couldn’t get a decisive touch on the ball to find the back of the net. Shortly afterwards, LR keeper Whittle was on-hand to deny Tunde Owolabi from close-range.

Halftime: Widnes 1-1 Atherton LR

Unimpressed by his side’s failure to take the game by the scruff of the neck, manager Hill made two halftime substitutions, replacing Strutz-Rivelli and Campbell-Joseph with Elliot Toner and Tom Hackett.

Five minutes into the second half, Atherton were reduced to 10-men. After being flagged for offside, striker Nial Callaghan stupidly booted the ball high into the stands and was promptly shown a second yellow card, putting his side at a one-man disadvantage for the last 40 minutes of the game.

It didn’t take long before Widnes capitalised on their man advantage. Edwards was again heavily involved as his shot on goal was spilled by Whittle and into the path of Tunde Owolabi who headed the ball over the head of the stranded LR keeper and into the back of the net.

Widnes were in control from this point onwards. Tom Hackett came close to finding the net twice in the space of a handful of minutes, as he drove an effort wide before seeing a shot cleared off the line minutes later after being picked out in the middle by Edwards.

Widnes eventually increased their lead on the 67-minute mark. Edwards again proved instrumental as he drove forward for Widnes, breezing past Fitton before pulling the ball back to Ronnie McCarthy who drilled a shot into the bottom corner, netting for the ninth time this season.

It should have been four five minutes later. Owolabi turned away from the challenge of Hatton with his cross being dummied by Wynne before falling at the feet of Elliot Toner who fired over the crossbar from inside the penalty area when the goal was gaping.

Widnes put the icing on the cake inside stoppage time at the end of the second half when the hosts were awarded a late penalty. Tony Wynne was played through in on-goal by Paul Carney and was brought down by the outstretched leg of keeper Whittle. McCarthy stepped up, and confidently stroked a powerful penalty into the bottom corner, sending Whittle the wrong way. The spot-kick was McCarthy’s fourth goal in his last three games and 10th of the season.

There was still time for McCarthy to come close to bagging a hat-trick as he attempted an audacious lob when through in on goal. Unfortunately for the Widnes man, he managed to beat Whittle with the effort but the ball sailed just over the crossbar.

Fulltime: Widnes 4-1 Atherton LR

It was a comfortable victory in the end for Widnes, who will be relieved to have bounced back from a 6-0 thrashing at Bacup Borough one week ago with a solid victory of their own.

These two sides meet again in a little over a week’s side as Widnes travel to Crilly Park on the 12th April. But prior to that meeting, Widnes host Litherland REMYCA at the Select Security Stadium, with the game kicking-off at the earlier time of 2pm.

Widnes: Morrow, McGrogan, Carney, Strutz-Rivelli (Toner 46), Mitchell (C), Lomax, Wynne, McCarthy, Owolabi (Davidson 73), Campbell-Joseph (Hackett 46), Edwards.

Subs not used: Wright, Murphy.

Atherton LR: Whittle, Atkinson, Fitton, Harvey, White, Hatton, Owens (Crossley 81), Smith (Sopel 70), Callaghan, Carty (Cocking 88), Kerr.

Subs not used: Davies.