Widnes FC were held to a 2-2 draw by Ashton Athletic at the Halton Stadium on Saturday afternoon in a pulsating Hallmark Security League Premier Division contest.

Widnes held a 2-0 lead at the break as skipper Kev Pollard prodded home an opener after eight minutes before Jay Roberts extended the hosts’ advantage midway through the half, netting his first goal for the club.

With Widnes seemingly heading for maximum points in their home league opener, Dale Korie-Butler came back to haunt his former side, netting twice in the last 20 minutes to seal a point for the visitors.

Colin Quirk thought he’d won it for Widnes deep into second half stoppage time with a superb volley that crashed against the crossbar before bouncing over the goalline and back into play. Quirk lead the celebrations only to be stunned as referee Robert Wainwright waved play on.

Widnes boss Joey Dunn made five changes to the side that convincingly beat Abbey Hey 10 days earlier. Ryan Taylor, who had impressed for the Development Squad in recent games, was handed a debut in goal ahead of Louis Mackin.

Skipper Pollard, Chad Whyte and Luke Edwards came into the side for trio Sean Myler, Billy Webb and Chris Lomax who all dropped to the bench. Meanwhile, defender Mike Burke failed a late fitness test with Tom Mitchell being given the nod at the heart of the Widnes defence alongside Michael White.

After a cagey start to the game, it was Widnes who opened the scoring. After his initial corner was only half-cleared, Edwards floated a delicious cross into the area that was directed against the upright by the head of Whyte. Pollard, marking his first appearance of the season, was quickest to react inside the six-yard area to prod home.

Quirk then flashed a shot wide of the target before both goalkeepers were called into action. Joel Brownhill forced Taylor into a decent stop before Sam Sheen’s cross-turned-shot nearly caught Martin Pearson out but the Ashton ‘keeper managed to fingertip the shot over for a corner.

Widnes extended their advantage following the midway point of the half with a fine display of counter-attacking football. After Widnes routinely dealt with an Ashton corner, Kev Towey wonderfully released Quirk into space who surged forward as the hosts swiftly turned defence into attack.

Right-back Roberts busted a gut to support Quirk, latching on to a well-weighted through-ball before arrowing a shot into the net with an assist from the foot of the post.

Either side of the half-hour mark, both sides were denied by the woodwork. Joshua Nicholson had time and space on the edge of the D to strike a shot against the bar before Alex Davies’ cross found Quirk in the area, who’s powerful effort rebounded off the bar as the first-half drew to a close at a frenetic pace.

Halftime: Widnes 2-0 Ashton Athletic

The second half was relatively tame in comparison. After a sloppy opening, Widnes spurned a great chance on the hour-mark to bag a third and all-but put the game to bed. Striker Whyte was played through on goal by substitute Chris Lomax, only to direct his shot against the body of Pearson who got down quickly to make the save.

Ashton set up a tantalising last 20 minutes when they halved the deficit in the 70th minute. Former Widnes man Korie-Butler had time on the edge of the area to curl an effort into the bottom corner to give his side a lifeline.

The visitors were all of a sudden in the ascendency as they went in search of an equaliser. The unmarked Callum Wilson nodded wide from close-range when he perhaps should have done better, before Brownhill was denied by the post twice inside three minutes.

The Ashton striker rose highest to glance a header against the foot of the post 11 minutes from time before again directing a header against the woodwork, only to agonisingly watch the ball trickle along the goalline before being collected by the grateful Taylor.

Ashton couldn’t believe their luck five minutes from time as the woodwork once again came to Widnes’ rescue. Slack defending from Widnes allowed Nicholson to win a free header that bounced back off the post, allowing the hosts to clear any resulting danger.

Inside second half stoppage time, drama descended upon the Halton Stadium as Ashton netted a late equaliser. A cross was lofted into the area where Korie-Butler was on-hand to guide a header inside of the near-post to appear to rescue a point for his side.

Drama became controversy as Widnes thought they’d won the game less than a minute later. Even from high in the stands at the Halton Stadium, it was clear that Quirk’s audacious volley had travelled well over the line behind Pearson, only for the referee Wainwright and his linesman on the far side to think otherwise.

Fulltime: Widnes 2-2 Ashton Athletic

Widnes’ players and coaching staff led vehement protests before and after the full-time whistle but to no avail as the hosts had to settle for a point in gutting circumstances.

Dunn’s men are back in action on Bank Holiday Monday, travelling to Winsford United.