Atherton LR 2-3 Widnes

Tunde Owolabi netted a brace for Widnes as Steve Hill’s side continued their good run of form with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Atherton LR on Tuesday night.

Owolabi gave Widnes the lead shortly before the half-hour mark before Thomas Halligan equalised for second bottom LR 10 minutes into the second half. Later in the half, the points were sealed in a frantic five minutes. Ronnie McCarthy converted a penalty for Widnes before Atherton hit back immediately through Kristian Evans. However, Tunde Owolabi added his second two minutes later, sealing all three points for Widnes, reaffirming the old adage that you’re at your most vulnerable when you have just scored.

Widnes manager Hill made a solitary change to his side that started in Saturday’s defeat at home against Litherland REMYCA. Jordan Wright replaced the unavailable Tony Wynne. Luke Edwards returned to the 16-man squad but after failing a late fitness test, Widnes’ top goalscorer was an unused substitute on the night.

LR came into the game searching for retribution after Widnes beat the game’s hosts 4-1 in the reverse fixture at the Select Security Stadium just 10 days previously. However, the visitors started the better of the two sides, with Tunde Owolabi shooting inches wide of the post after breezing past the challenge of LR skipper Brian Hatton.

The playing surface at Crilly Park was extremely boggy and cut-up, making it extremely difficult to play on. Chances were sparse early in the half, with Ronnie McCarthy shooting wide for Widnes, and LR substitute Steven Brown forcing an excellent save out of Ben Morrow after Danny Kerr’s initial shot was blocked.

Widnes looked the more likely side to take the lead approaching the half-hour mark. McCarthy played a tremendous 30-yard pass into the penalty area which was cushioned down by Jordan Wright into the path of Tom Hackett who forced a corner which lead to Widnes’ opener.

From the resulting corner, Hackett came close again as he headed McCarthy’s corner against the crossbar before Tunde Owolabi brought the down ball, turning the ball home on the rebound to net his fourth league goal of the season.

LR came close to replying almost immediately. Adam Owens got the better of George McGrogan before advancing on goal and firing inches wide of the far post. Down the other end, McCarthy again threatened, this time shooting over from 30 yards.

Widnes missed a great chance to double their lead heading into halftime. Keeper Ben Morrow played a pass into the feet of McCarthy to launch a Widnes counter-attack, as McCarthy threaded a ball through to Owolabi who forced a good save out of Luke Raybould who got down well to narrow the angle as Owolabi closed on goal.

Raybould again denied Widnes in the final minute of the half. Wright couldn’t quite get a shot away for the visitors, with the ball falling to Paul Carney who forced a terrific, reaction save out of the LR shot-stopper from close range.

Halftime: Atherton LR 0-1 Widnes

After a tight opening to the second half not helped by the deteriorating pitch condition, LR equalised as a corner was flicked on at the near post by Widnes’ Elliot Toner with Atherton’s Thomas Halligan heading the ball past Morrow to level the scoreline with plenty of time remaining.

LR had their tails up and pursued a second as they searched for their first league win since October. Danny Kerr made light work of Widnes skipper Mitchell, breezing past the defender before forcing a comfortable save out of Morrow.

In similar fashion to the reverse fixture, Widnes were awarded a second penalty in as many games against LR as Owolabi chased down what looked like a lost cause, before driving past two LR defenders before being brought down by earlier goalscorer Halligan. Ronnie McCarthy stepped up, and netted the penalty, as he did in the reverse fixture to give Widnes the lead. McCarthy continued his excellent form with the successful spot-kick, which was his fifth goal in as many games and his 11th goal of the season.

LR instantly replied. The ball was played into the feet of Kristian Evans on the edge of the area, who had far too much space and time to engineer space for a shot that whistled its way into the bottom corner as Widnes were immediately pegged back.

Not to be outdone, Widnes regained the lead two minutes later, completing a mad five minutes of football. A corner from the right was floated in by Paul Carney where it was met by the head of Tunde Owolabi who did extremely well to divert the ball into the back of the net to record his second goal of the night.

LR never really came close to finding another equaliser as Widnes shut up shop and made the game safe. However, the visitors did come close to a fourth as McCarthy was again heavily involved, bullying his way forward and picking out Tom Hackett with an excellent cross who could only head the ball over when it was far easier to hit the target, wasting a glorious opportunity for Widnes to seal all three points.

The game began to heat up in the late exchanges, as both Cocking and Hackett were cautioned for reckless challenges which saw the opposing dugouts clash verbally as Widnes saw the game out and picked up their third win in five games.

Fulltime: Atherton LR 2-3 Widnes

This result moves Widnes up to 14th in the North West Counties Football League First Division table, level on points with 15th placed Chadderton having played three games more. Hill’s side therefore have plenty to play for with only three games remaining, with the first of those games coming this Saturday as Widnes travel to Ashton Town. That game kicks off at 3pm.

Atherton LR: Raybould, Sopel, Douasse (Cocking 87), Harvey, Mulligan, Hatton (C), Owens (Atkinson 73), Smith, Evans, Kerr, Yoak (Brown 23).

Subs not used: Callaghan.

Widnes: Morrow, McGrogan, Carney, Wilson, Mitchell (C), Toner, Wright (Davidson 62), McCarthy, Owolabi, Campbell-Joseph, Hackett.

Subs not used: Edwards.