REPORT: Widnes 0-1 City of Liverpool

Photo: Paul Moran

A 74th minute Karl Noon winner proved to be the finest of margins as Widnes FC were narrowly beaten 1-0 by City of Liverpool in their first game following the departure of manager Joey Dunn.

With interim bosses Steve Akrigg and Nick Matthews at the helm, second-half substitute Noon struck home to earn all three points for the visitors.

The result, which was tough on the hosts, was Widnes’ first home league defeat since September 2016's 3-1 loss to Whitchurch Alport.

In a match of few clear-cut opportunities, Widnes looked comfortable for long spells but were ultimately undone after failing to properly clear a City of Liverpool counter-attack.

Akrigg and Matthews made four changes to the side that comfortably dispatched Burscough two weeks ago. With Mike Burke suspended and Akrigg still suffering from a long-term knee injury, Sam Sheen returned to the side from injury as a makeshift centre-half alongside Tom Mitchell who was also handed a recall.

Elsewhere, Kev Towey was unavailable whilst duo Luke Edwards and Chad Whyte dropped to the bench as Andy Gillespie was given the nod up-front whilst Jay Roberts returned albeit at the unfamiliar role of left-back.

Following Dunn’s departure on Thursday night, Akrigg and Matthews had little time to prepare their side but Widnes looked more cohesive from the get-go.

Chances were hard to come by in the first half, with Alex Davies enjoying a surging run forward before switching play to Chris Lomax who did well to win a corner. Lomax floated the set-piece into the area, but it was harmlessly headed over by Sheen.

Joe Camozzi probed forward for the visitors and latched on to a Michael Roberts pass only for Richie Mottram to gather Camozzi’s cross with relative ease.

Tempers frayed midway through the half as Sean Myler flew into a late challenge on Roberts. Referee Peter Simm opted to only caution Myler despite appeals from City of Liverpool’s vocal following.

There was little in the way of goalmouth action throughout the opening half but Widnes were threatening on the break and looked assured in possession. ‘Keeper Mottram looked to quickly release Lomax with a punt forward who managed to evade the challenge of Purps’ captain Chris Lester. Lomax drove forward only to shoot straight at Graeme McCall.

City of Liverpool calved out their best chance of the half following the half-hour mark as the Purps exchanged a number of neat passes that released Tom Peterson into space but his first touch was poor and quickly collected by Mottram.

Halftime: Widnes 0-0 City of Liverpool

The sides emerged after the interval unchanged and it was the hosts who began the brighter.

A loose ball broke to Myler on the edge of the D who looked to strike a well-timed volley towards goal, only for Luke Denson to throw his body in the way of the shot to make a crucial block for his side.

Widnes continued to press forward in search of the game’s elusive opener. Roberts tried his luck from distance with a stinging drive that was initially spilled by ‘keeper McCall who was quick to smother at the second attempt.

Simon Burton looked to his bench for some influence, and it was his change that swung the game into his side’s favour.

Karl Noon was introduced midway through the second half, and he made an immediate impact six minutes later.

Widnes could only half-clear a Purples attack as Sheen’s header fell at the feet of Noon who had time to engineer space to drive a shot on goal that nestled in the back of the net beneath the body of Mottram.

Akrigg and Matthews countered with their own substitutions. Whyte and Billy Webb were brought on as Widnes switched to 4-4-2 in search of an equaliser.

Widnes thought that they’d rescued a point late on, as skipper Pollard stabbed a shot at goal following a scramble inside the area, but McCall produced a stunning reaction save at his near-post to push Pollard’s shot away to safety.

City of Liverpool spurned a great chance to put the game to bed inside stoppage time. John Connolly got in behind the Widnes defence and looked to pick out substitute Alex Meechan in the penalty area who couldn’t quite grab an elusive touch to turn Connolly’s cross goalwards.

Widnes threw bodies forward late on but the visitors held on for victory.

Fulltime: Widnes 0-1 City of Liverpool

Widnes are back in action on Saturday with a trip to Townfield to face Northwich Victoria. Kick-off 3pm.