REPORT: Widnes 5-1 Maine Road

Widnes FC recorded their first victory under joint managers Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey following a rampant first-half display against Maine Road, which saw the Whites grab three goals in 13 minutes to put the Mancunians to the sword.

Jay Roberts rounded off a flowing passing move to put give Widnes the lead before Sam Sheen netted his first goal for the Club to double the lead as the half-hour mark approached.

The tenacious midfielder soon grabbed his second of the game, firing into the roof of the net before Sean Myler rubbed salt into Maine Road’s wounds with a well-taken fourth five minutes before the break.

Connor Hughes reduced the arrears following the hour-mark but it was scant consolation for the visitors as substitute Chad Whyte notched a fifth for Widnes two minutes from time.

Following a third straight 2-2 draw last time out against 1874 Northwich, joint bosses Akrigg and Towey made three changes. Jack Banister was handed a debut while Myler and Billy Webb were handed recalls; the latter after netting an 87th minute equaliser to secure a point against 1874.

The hosts started positively as Banister almost made a dream start to his Widnes debut. The young winger tried his luck with a volley off-balance but his shot went narrowly wide of the post.

Widnes had another sight of goal minutes later as Sheen did well to intercept a wayward pass and surge forward. He quickly rolled a pass into the feet of Brad Smart who’s shot was turned behind for a corner that ultimately came to nothing.

An opener came on the 12-minute mark. It was a magnificent passing move as the ball was worked wide to Jay Roberts on the right-hand side. He drove forward before playing a neat one-two with Myler that released the former Runcorn Linnets man into the area, with Roberts finishing well beyond Ryan Livesey.

Moments later, Widnes were inches away from an immediate second as Dylan Sweeney’s dangerous corner evaded everyone, including skipper Kev Pollard who was the smallest of margins away from turning the loose ball home into an empty net.

In total control, Widnes took a firm grip on the game with a second goal shortly before the half-hour mark. Debutant Banister was involved, whipping a dangerous delivery into the area where Sam Sheen was on-hand to turn home his maiden Widnes goal from close-range.

After 36 games without a Widnes goal, Sheen was at the double inside seven first half minutes. Jack Graham was the creator, superbly dancing past two defenders before splitting the Maine Road defence with an incisive through-ball. Sheen latched on to the pass before firing a composed effort into the roof of the net.

The visitors were visibly rattled by Widnes’ firepower, unable to cope with the pace and threat of Roberts, Graham and Banister. The latter continued his fine debut with an assist, as he found space down the channel to cut a cross back into the path of Sean Myler who found the back of the net via the underside of the bar with a well-taken finish.

Halftime: Widnes 4-0 Maine Road

Widnes picked up where they left off early in the second half, and it took a good save from Road ‘keeper Livesey to deny Brad Smart with his feet, before making another good stop minutes later to deny a Graham effort.

The hosts had reduced their intensity but Akrigg and Towey’s side were still hungry for more. Sheen exchanged passes with Myler before playing a pass through to striker Webb but Livesey was on-hand to make the save.

Against the run of play, Maine Road pulled a goal back following the hour-mark. Connor Hughes did well to latch on to a long ball over the top, timing his run immaculately to volley a shot on goal that nestled in the far corner with the outstretched Richie Mottram well-beaten.

Widnes gradually began to regain a rhythm as the hosts were awarded a 70th minute penalty. Webb contested an aerial ball with Road ‘keeper Livesey who inexplicably wrestled the Widnes man to the ground leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

Skipper Kev Pollard stepped up, but his spot-kick was a poor one with Livesey redeeming himself with a relatively straight-forward save. The missed penalty continued Widnes’ rotten luck from 12 yards out, with the Whites having failed to convert seven straight spot-kicks stretching back to February.

Substitute Alex Davies – brought on in place of impressive debutant Banister – almost made an immediate impact from the bench as he flashed a shot over from inside the area after good work by Roberts before Webb lashed over after Sheen’s driving run forward broke down.

A fifth goal was inevitable and it came two minutes from time. Two substitutes combined as Davies engineered space for a cross towards the near-post, allowing Chad Whyte to convert with a tidy finish to complete the scoring and the rout.

Fulltime: Widnes 5-1 Maine Road

The big win sets Akrigg and Towey’s side up nicely for a run of three fixtures in seven days, starting with Monday’s Liverpool Senior Cup tie at home to AFC Liverpool.