REPORT: Carlisle City 0-3 Widnes

Widnes FC bounced back from disappointment in the Reusch First Division Cup in midweek with a comfortable 3-0 win at Carlisle City.

Joey Dunn’s side made the perfect start as Craig Cherry was left red-faced as he bundled the ball into his own net, before Chad Whyte doubled the advantage on the 26-minute mark as he capitalised on an error by City ‘keeper Adam Coward.

After a scrappy and largely uneventful second half, Luke J Edwards (pictured) completed the scoring for Widnes as he picked up a loose ball in the area before firing a fine finish inside of the near-post.

Manager Dunn made one change to the side that were beaten in the first leg of their First Division Cup semi-final against City of Liverpool on Monday. Suspended skipper Kev Pollard was replaced by striker Whyte, who was handed his first start for the Club following his arrival last month.

Meanwhile, left-back Jamie Clark was named amongst the substitutes, potentially in-line for a debut after completing his move to the Club last week.

Widnes were gifted an opener after two minutes. Danny Hand raced down the channel for the visitors before linking up with Edwards whose awkward cross into the area was diverted into his own net by Cherry, who appeared to bundle the ball home after a slight error of judgement with his goalkeeper Coward.

Carlisle recovered from their early setback and rattled the woodwork on the 10-minute mark. Ben Davidson smashed a rocket against the upright from just inside the area before Bradley Hayton sliced the rebound over the bar.

Widnes then came close to doubling their lead. Edwards picked up a loose ball in midfield before releasing Kev Towey on the far-side with ‘keeper Coward getting a slight touch on Towey’s effort to take it inches wide of the post.

Two minutes later, Carlisle were awarded a penalty. Tom Lucock went past Jack Graham with ease before being bundled over in the area by Mike Burke. Lucock stepped up himself, but could only fire his spot-kick against the crossbar as Widnes escaped with a let-off.

Having survived a scare, Widnes took control and began to mount a period of sustained pressure. The visitors patiently waited for space to open up as Towey linked up with Graham who cut inside before rifling an effort over the bar.

Widnes had the ball in the net minutes later to increase their lead. ‘Keeper Coward dropped a relatively straightforward George Lomax cross straight into the path of Chad Whyte, who turned the ball home with the goal at his mercy, marking his first start for the Club with a goal.

Coward redeemed himself with two terrific saves following the half-hour mark. Lomax’s effort looked destined for the top corner but the Carlisle shot-stopper produced a fantastic finger-tip save to push the ball on to the crossbar, before diverting Whyte’s shot against the foot of the post with another superb stop.

Halftime: Carlisle City 0-2 Widnes

The second half was relatively uneventful and scrappy as both sides struggled on an extremely heavy and cut-up playing surface.

The first chance of the half fell to defender Steve Akrigg, who rose highest to head Edwards’ corner into the grateful gloves of ‘keeper Coward.

Widnes then suffered a blow as the game approached the hour-mark. Goalscorer Whyte appeared to pull-up as he chased a loose ball. He tried to carry on before limping off with injury to be replaced by Billy Webb.

The visitors secured victory 15 minutes from time. After the ball bounced around on the edge of the area, midfielder Edwards was quickest to react following a bit of a scramble, as he calmly advanced towards goal before seeing his shot nestle in the back of the net to round-off a Man of the Match performance. Edwards’ goal was his fifth of 2017 after netting just once in the first half of the season.

Widnes could have added a fourth inside stoppage time. Striker Webb raced clear but couldn’t quite get a clean shot away as he burst into the area, with his shot rolling wide of the target.

Fulltime: Carlisle City 0-3 Widnes

Widnes’ first win in three moves them to within one point of the play-off spots as manager Dunn prepares his side for a trip to bottom-club Ashton Town on Tuesday night.