REPORT: Sandbach Utd 3-0 Widnes

Widnes FC were left frustrated on Tuesday night as they were well beaten 3-0 away to Sandbach United, at Wood Park Stadium, home of Alsager Town.

The early chances fell to Widnes and the signs looked ominous for Sandbach, but they grew into the game and goals from Josh Lane and a Daniel Bartle brace deservedly brought Widnes’ unbeaten run to an abrupt halt.

Joey Dunn made one change to the starting line up, with Matty Rigby coming in for the unavailable George Lomax.

Matt Rigby had the first chance of the game when arriving at the back post after great work by Kev Towey. His volley was well struck but faded wide of the post.

Chris Lomax then had three chances to open the scoring in the next three minutes.

Firstly, a decent turn on the edge of the box enabled him to get a shot off, but it sailed over the bar. Within a minute he had another shot but this was hit straight at the keeper, before being released one on one with the keeper, but once again the keeper kept him out with a good save.

Sandbach had survived the early scares and were now well in the game and duly took the lead on 27 minutes when a needless foul was given away on the corner of the box. The resulting free kick was nodded back across goal and smashed inside the post by Josh Lane.

On 30 minutes Sandbach had a great opportunity to increase their lead when their striker was found free at the back post but he put it over when it seemed harder to miss.

On 38 Minutes, another glaring opportunity was wasted as a Sandbach header was put over from close range.

On 41 minutes the impressive No.10 Oumar Mballo then went on a mazy run that almost produced a wonder goal but for a fine save by Mottram.

Halftime: Sandbach United 1-0 Widnes

The second half started much the same as the first half with Widnes having a fair share of the play without creating too much.

Kev Towey had a goal ruled out on 62 minutes for offside, but there were no complaints from the Widnes side.

A minute later at the other end Sandbach were awarded a penalty after Sam Sheen upended the Sandbach No.9 Daniel Bartle.

Bartle confidently took the penalty himself to make it 2-0.

Widnes immediately made two substitutions, with Adam Weston & debutant Jamie Harkness coming on for Luke J Edwards and Matt Rigby.

However, on 73 Minutes the game was effectively over as Mottram uncharacteristically flapped at a corner and the ball fell invitingly to Bartle who smashed it home for 3-0.

To their credit, Widnes didn’t give up the fight and kept going as Kev Towey was denied a consolation goal in the dying minutes when a great header was kept out by an even better save from the home keeper.

Fulltime: Sandbach United 3-0 Widnes

A disappointing evening all round for the Whites, but a lot of credit must go to Sandbach United who on the night were very impressive.

In their next outing, Widnes travel to Barnton on Friday in a quick turnaround, where they will face Cheadle Town in the Macron Cup.

Sandbach United: Ryan Moss, Matthew Pearson, Jamie Morgan, Bradley Cooper, Kris Stockton, Thomas Watkin, George Riley, Nathan Jones, Daniel Bartle, Oumar Mballo, Josh Lane

Subs: Christopher Jackson, James Bettley, Carlos Correia, Luke Taylor, Theo Brierley

Widnes: Richard Mottram, Daniel Hand, Thomas Mitchell (Joe Fielding 78), Luke J Edwards (Adam Weston 65), Michael Burke, Kevin Pollard, Kevin Towey, Sam Sheen, Matthew Rigby (Jamie Harkness 65), Jack Graham, Christopher Lomax

Subs not used: Oladimeji Odesanya, Nathan Quinlan