REPORT: Widnes 2-2 Litherland REMYCA

10-man Widnes twice surrendered a lead as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to league leaders Litherland REMYCA.

Widnes opened the scoring after 23 minutes as George Lomax netted from close-range, but a Colin Quirk equaliser five minutes later saw the sides go in level at the break.

Lomax added his second early in the second half, rounding off a magnificent team goal to restore Widnes’ lead, who were reduced to 10-men on the hour-mark as skipper Kev Pollard was shown a straight red card by referee Michael Herzog.

Despite their one-man disadvantage, Widnes held firm and just as it seemed that Joey Dunn’s men might be on course for a big three points, Quirk popped up to dispatch his second, and a late leveller for Litherland.

Dunn made four changes his starting eleven as River Humphreys, captain Pollard, Danny Hand and Michael Burns came in for Tom Mitchell, Luke J Edwards, Chris Lomax and Billy Webb, with the latter two players dropping to the bench.

Widnes made a positive start, attacking down both flanks and causing REMYCA plenty of concern. Pollard smashed an effort over the bar after good work by Jack Graham, before a flick-on by the skipper in midfield had Danny Hand away down the right. His shot on goal could only be parried by Litherland ‘keeper Sean Lake into the path of Kev Towey, who rattled the crossbar from close-range with the rebound.

With both sides mounting a push for promotion, it was always likely to be a cagey contest early on. That said, Widnes were more cohesive and again threatened as Graham superbly engineered space for a cross on the far side, but David Flynn won a crucial header in the area to take the ball away from Towey, who was lurking in the area.

Minutes later, Widnes were ahead. Substitute Chris Lomax – introduced early for the injured Burns – floated a corner into the area. A goalmouth scramble ensued as REMYCA couldn’t quite clear their lines, with George Lomax on-hand to prod home the loose ball from close-range.

The lead lasted for all of five minutes as Widnes were caught cold and surrendered an equaliser. Colin Quirk picked up a loose ball on the far side, advancing into the area before arrowing a powerful effort through a crowd of bodies and into the bottom corner, beyond the outstretched Owen Wheeler.

Chances were hard to come by in closing stages of the half, but Widnes came close to restoring their lead on the stroke of half-time. Goalscorer Lomax picked out Hand at the back-post, who cleverly shook of his marker but could only direct a first time volley over the bar.

Halftime: Widnes 1-1 Litherland REMYCA

Widnes started the second half and were once again denied by the woodwork. After George Lomax was upended just outside the area, Towey stepped up with a lovely 25-yard free-kick that had ‘keeper Lake beaten, but the ball came back off the REMYCA bar, with Lomax unable to convert from the rebound.

Three minutes later however, a magnificent team goal restored Widnes’ advantage. The hosts steadily built their attack before Sam Sheen found Hand in acres of space inside the area. The right-back’s low cross into the six-yard area was cleverly turned home by George Lomax, who wheeled away in celebration after netting his 15th goal of the season.

REMYCA came close to swift leveller as Quirk’s free-kick 25 yards from goal somehow made its way through the Widnes wall, only to strike the outside of the post on its way wide.

The game’s turning point arrived on the hour-mark as Pollard was shown his marching orders by referee Herzog.

After REMYCA’s Chris Tyson threw a robust challenge in on Widnes’ Chris Lomax, Pollard came racing in and appeared to clash with the Litherland man who was still on the floor, seeing red for the incident.

This put Widnes under the cosh throughout much of the second half as REMYCA manager Phil Stafford made all three changes in search of an equaliser. Substitute Jackson Ellis came close to providing an equaliser, but he could only hook a shot over from close-range.

Despite this, Widnes held firm and came close to sealing victory four minutes from time. Sheen won possession back in midfield and quickly released Towey. The Widnes talisman held the ball up for Hand who cut inside a fired a shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide after clipping the foot of the post.

Two minutes later, REMYCA were level. After a throw-in on the far-side was wrongly awarded to the visitors, Litherland launched a long-ball down the right channel towards substitute Michael Boyle. He played the ball inside for Quirk, who fired a wonderful strike into back of the net, in off the post leaving Wheeler with no chance of preserving Widnes’ lead.

REMYCA arguably should have won the game late on as Boyle’s cross was only half-cleared to Sam Wilkie in the area, who snatched at his chance and fired over.

Fulltime: Widnes 2-2 Litherland REMYCA

Next up for Widnes is a trip to Cumbria to face Holker Old Boys on Saturday. Dunn’s side then face a quick turnaround as they host City of Liverpool on Monday 27th February in the first leg of the Reusch First Division Cup semi-final.