REPORT | Glossop North End 3-6 Widnes

Dale Korie-Butler struck a hat-trick to help Widnes recover from two deficits and maintain their current run of form with a 6-3 victory over Glossop North End on Saturday.

The win extends Widnes’ unbeaten run to four in the league, with Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey’s side having only lost once in their last seven fixtures in the Evo-Stik Division One West.

Matthew Russell handed the home side a lead, which was cancelled out by Korie-Butler as the half-hour approached, before adding his second 10 minutes later after Peter Boyle had restored Glossop’s one-goal advantage.

The former Ashton Athletic forward edged Widnes in front for the first time early in the second half to complete his hat-trick, then Jack Dunn and Phil Doran got themselves on the scoresheet as the Whites racked up five at Surrey Street.

Russell grabbed a personal second as he converted a late penalty, but it was purely consolation for Mark Canning and Andy Bishop’s men, as substitute Ben Hodkinson netted a sixth in stoppage time.

Co-bosses Akrigg and Towey opted for three changes to the side that drew at home to Ramsbottom United last time out. Both joint-managers came into the side alongside George Webster in place of Kev Pollard, Sean Myler who was rested and the injured Mike Burke missed out.

The opening chance of the encounter fell to Glossop but the unmarked Oliver Thornley could only nod wide from a corner.

Widnes looked to impose themselves early with Korie-Butler forcing a comfortable save out of Russell Saunders before Towey had an effort ruled out for offside.

Glossop edged the early exchanges, and their positive start was rewarded with a goal on 12 minutes.

After Ryan Neild had pushed Jack Tuohy’s free-kick away to safety, Sam Madeley struck the post with a rebound. Glossop kept the ball alive despite having a number of shots blocked, with skipper Russell on hand to head home from Bishop’s acrobatic cutback.

Within 15 minutes, though, the Whites were level. Jay Roberts drove forward purposefully from right-back and played a clever through-ball in the vicinity of Korie-Butler. Bishop failed to deal with it, allowing the Widnes forward to pick up the loose ball, round Saunders and convert from a tight angle.

The game was more akin to a basketball match around the half-hour as Glossop quickly restored their advantage. Tuohy’s flick released Madeley who found Boyle in space. He was afforded enough time to set himself and drive home an effort via the foot of the post.

As the visitors searched for an instant response, Korie-Butler spurned a glorious chance to equalise as he broke the offside trap to face Saunders one-on-one, but he wasted the effort after attempting to round the Glossop custodian who got a glove on the ball as the chance broke down.

Korie-Butler would make no mistake eight minutes before the break. Danny Ventre floated a sublime delivery into the area, finding Towey who intelligently dropped his shoulder to engineer space for a cutback that allowed the Widnes No.9 to redirect into an empty net.

Widnes flew out of the blocks in the second half, with Korie-Butler having a shot beaten away by Saunders with Jack Dunn hitting a follow-up effort off target.

Their intense start to the second period was rewarded just three minutes in when Widnes secured a lead for the first time. Roberts floated a ball over the top of a sleeping Glossop back-line when Towey, stood in an offside position, played decoy as Korie-Butler ghosted in from the left to lift a well-taken lob over the stranded Saunders, completing his hat-trick.

Widnes never looked back, adding a fourth midway through the half as Dunn made it two goals in three games since arriving on loan from Warrington Town, finding the top corner with a scoop-shot from just outside the area, leaving Saunders with no chance.

The visitors were cruising and in complete control against a Glossop side that were devoid of ideas. Debutant Rob Bourne, Chris Lomax and Hodkinson were all introduced from the bench, and Lomax really should have added a fifth when he headed Conor Ready’s cross over from close-range.

A fifth goal came from an unlikely source with only seven minutes remaining. Doran went on a marauding run forward, bullying his way through a crowd of Glossop players before exchanging passes with Ready and firing a shot at goal that took a heavy deflection on its way beyond Saunders.

The hosts claimed a third as Russell converted a dubious penalty late in normal time, but Widnes promptly scampered to the other end of the field to make it 6-3, as Hodkinson turned home after Lomax drilled a cross into the six-yard area.