Widnes 1-3 Litherland REMYCA

A second half double from James McGrane secured all three points for the visiting Litherland REMYCA as Widnes FC were condemned to their 17th league defeat of the season, falling 3-1 in a well-contested fixture at the Select Security Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Widnes will be disappointed that they didn’t get something out of the game, due to the bevy of chances they had in the latter stages of the first half, and opening of the second half. Phil Stancombe opened the scoring for REMYCA midway through the opening period before Jamil Campbell-Joseph equalised in thunderous fashion for Widnes 10 minutes before the break.

James McGrane netted shortly before the hour-mark to retake the lead for REMYCA, mere seconds after Ronnie McCarthy rattled the post for Widnes before McGrane added his second of the afternoon 22 minutes from time to complete the scoreline on the day.

Widnes manager Steve Hill made three changes to his side that beat Atherton LR 4-1 at home last time out. Braian Strutz-Rivelli dropped to the bench to accommodate the return of Danny Wilson at centre-half alongside skipper Tom Mitchell whilst Tom Hackett and Elliot Toner returned to the starting lineup, coming in for the unavailable duo of Danny Lomax and Luke Edwards.

REMYCA started well and should have taken an early lead. McGrane got the better of George McGrogan on Widnes’ right-hand side before picking out Phil Stancombe, who had drifted away from his marker at the back-post but the Litherland man could only turn his effort wide in what was an early and big let-off for Widnes.

Widnes then came close five minutes later. Elliot Toner did well to regain possession 35 yards from goal before playing the ball to Tunde Owolabi who fired an effort inches past the post.

REMYCA’s McGrane was enjoying plenty of freedom on the wing for the visitors, as he picked out John Cheetham who missed the target from distance before Wade Muscart linked with Colin Quirk who could only volley over for the away side who were firmly on top at this point.

REMYCA’s spell of dominance was rewarded with a goal midway through the first-half. After a Widnes attack broke down at the other end, REMYCA launched a counter-attack as Muscart got the better of Carney before picking out Stancombe at the back post who turned the ball home to open the scoring for the visitors.

It should have been 2-0 minutes later. Quirk threaded a ball through to McGrane who raced clear through on goal but could only shoot wide as Widnes goalkeeper Ben Morrow narrowed down the angle as McGrane beckoned down on goal.

Widnes equalised 10 minutes before half-time. A goal that really came from nothing as Jamil Campbell-Joseph picked up a loose ball in midfield, before thumping a 25-yard strike into the top corner, leaving REMYCA keeper Daniel Manning with no chance.

Widnes missed two glorious chances late in the half to lead at the break. Manning produced two terrific saves as he first denied Owolabi as he burst forward for the hosts before being denied by the REMYCA shot-stopper. Then, Campbell-Joseph was played through by Carney but he too was denied by Manning, who came to the rescue for Litherland twice in two minutes.

Halftime: Widnes 1-1 Litherland REMYCA

Widnes picked up in the opening stages of the second half where they had left off in the first. Elliot Toner volleyed over for the Whites before the Widnes midfielder linked up with Paul Carney who drove an effort over the bar as a crisp and patient move from Widnes came close to producing a goal.

Widnes came even closer to taking the lead minutes later as Ronnie McCarthy picked up the ball in midfield before turning away from his man and rattling the post with an absolute rocket from 30 yards that would have beaten Manning had it been on target.

However, REMYCA made Widnes pay for their missed chances as they took the lead less than two minutes after McCarthy hit the post. A mistake at the back from skipper Tom Mitchell allowed James McGrane to pick up the loose ball before firing past a stranded Morrow as the visitors retaken the lead against the run of play.

Earlier goalscorer Stancombe missed a great chance to double his account and REMYCA’s lead two minutes later. He found himself all alone at the near post, one-on-one with Morrow but he fluffed his lines as he sliced his effort wide.

Widnes then went searching for an equaliser. McCarthy rifled a shot at goal that was fumbled by Manning into the path of Owolabi whose effort was hooked off the line by Lee McConchie as the hosts came inches away from a leveller. From the resulting corner, McCarthy was again involved as he teed up Toner who released a dipping effort towards goal that required a save out of Manning’s fingertips to keep the scoreline at 1-2.

REMYCA however increased their lead 22 minutes from time. McGrane again got free on the near side, cutting inside of his man before letting fly with a stunning strike that nestled in the top corner, beyond the outstretched Morrow who couldn’t quite get a hand to the effort as Litherland went 3-1 up.

Widnes never looked like getting back into the game from that point onwards, but the visitors were denied a fourth by a brilliant Ben Morrow save as Quirk’s free-kick from the right was met by the head of substitute Liam Robertson who forced a top class stop out of the Widnes no.1.

Fulltime: Widnes 1-3 Litherland REMYCA

Despite the defeat, Widnes remain in 15th place in the North West Counties Football League First Division, heading into Tuesday night’s fixture at second-bottom Atherton LR, which begins a three-game road trip for Steve Hill’s side who end the season with games at LR, Ashton Town and Rochdale Town before hosting Eccleshall on the final day of the league season on April 30.

Widnes: Morrow, McGrogan (Strutz-Rivelli 59), Carney, Wilson, Mitchell (C), Toner, Hackett (Wright 74), McCarthy, Owolabi (Davidson 74), Campbell-Joseph, Wynne.

Subs not used: None

Litherland REMYCA: Manning, Lowe, Cheetham, King (C), Stancombe (Olsen 81), McConchie, Muscart (Robertson 59), Flynn (Jones 70), Quirk, Colbourn, McGrane.

Subs not used: Tyson, Willis.