REPORT: Winsford United 2-1 Widnes

A late second half rally wasn’t enough for Widnes, who suffered their second league defeat of the season losing 2-1 at Winsford United.

An early goal from Brandon Moores and a second half strike from George Riley downed Joey Dunn’s side, despite George Lomax’s 71st minute goal providing Widnes with a late lifeline.

Manager Dunn made two changes to the side that were held to a 2-2 draw by Ashton Athletic on Saturday. Alex Davies was ruled out through injury as Sean Myler returned to the starting line-up. Elsewhere, Chad Whyte dropped to the bench as George Lomax was handed a recall.

Widnes started slowly as Winsford quickly took control and began to put the visitors makeshift back three under early pressure. With defenders Mike Burke and Steve Akrigg missing through injury, skipper Kev Pollard was slotted into the backline alongside natural central defenders Michael White and Tom Mitchell.

At a sun-baked St Luke’s Barton Stadium, Winsford took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes as Brandon Moores received the ball and quickly dispatched of White with a clever nutmeg, holding off the challenge of Pollard before dispatching a shot into the back of the net inside of the near-post.

Clear-cut chances were sporadic in the first half with Widnes testing Michael Langley twice in quick succession. Colin Quirk forced a decent save out of the Winsford shot-stopper before eventually having a second bite of the cherry but Langley produced a diving save to push Quirk’s effort away to safety.

Captain Pollard, who dislocated his elbow in the build-up to Moores’ opener before playing on, could only half-clear a deep cross towards Ryan Steele, who struck a powerful effort narrowly wide of the post.

Widnes ‘keeper Ryan Taylor was twice called into action as the half drew to a close. Riley latched on to a wayward White header before forcing a decent save out of Taylor who had to react quickly to push Callum Gardner’s free-kick away from goal as it travelled through a crowd of bodies inside the penalty area.

Halftime: Winsford United 1-0 Widnes

With a point to prove, Widnes flew out of the blocks in the second half as Kev Towey was released into space down the channel, picking out George Lomax in the area who couldn’t convert from close-range allowing Winsford to clear the resulting danger.

Widnes again went close minutes later as Quirk’s deep cross landed in the vicinity of Towey inside the penalty area who couldn’t quite grab an elusive touch to turn the ball beyond the stranded Winsford ‘keeper Langley.

Dunn’s side were then punished for their inefficiency in front of goal as Winsford added a second. Gardner drilled a free-kick against the wall but the Widnes were slow to react as George Riley arrowed a shot towards goal that nestled in the bottom corner with Taylor well-beaten.

Winsford began to show signs of fatigue as the game edged towards its climax as Widnes grew into the contest, pulling a goal back 20 minutes from time.

It was a well-worked Widnes goal with Sean Myler proving to be instrumental in the build-up, driving forward before finding Luke Edwards in acres of space on the far-side. Edwards twisted and turned to engineer space for a cross that was turned home by the outstretched boot of George Lomax from close-range.

Widnes were revitalized and went in search of an equaliser. Sustained pressure led to a serious of corners with Lomax attempting an acrobatic effort on goal that was comfortably gathered by Langley.

Inside second half stoppage time, Widnes spurned two glorious opportunities to get something out of the game. Pollard gambled to pounce on a deflected Towey pass, only to strike a half-volley straight at the body of Langley.

Despite a late rally, there was to be no Widnes comeback despite Towey finding himself in acres of space only to shoot straight at Langley with an effort that the striker would have been bitterly disappointed with.

Towey’s effort was the last piece of action of a disappointing outing on Bank Holiday Monday.

Fulltime: Winsford United 2-1 Widnes

After picking up four points from four games in August, Widnes will be looking to start September with the means to go on as Dunn’s side face a difficult task at Bootle on Saturday.