REPORT | Widnes 1-2 Runcorn Linnets

A wearisome Widnes remain eight league games without a win after falling to neighbours Runcorn Linnets 2-1 in Saturday’s Halton Derby.

Paul Shanley’s first-half effort coupled with Louis Corrigan’s sublime free-kick had Runcorn cruising to all three points, and while Ben Hodkinson set up a tense finish, Linnets ultimately held on for a narrow victory that perhaps flattered Widnes.

The Whites are now winless in the league in nearly three months, and now only sit three points ahead of bottom club Pickering Town, albeit with games in-hand on two of the three sides below them.

Goalkeeper Aidan Stone came into the side as one of three changes that had to settle for a point at City of Liverpool last time out. The 20-year-old signed on loan from Mansfield Town in time to feature, replacing Owen Wheeler who dropped to the bench.

Elsewhere, Michael Grogan and Hodkinson were preferred to Rhain Hellawell and James Steele who were both named amongst the substitutes.

Co-boss Kev Towey urged his side to play passing football in their first home game in over a month, but Widnes were often over-reliant on a direct style of play that Towey felt played into the opposition’s hands.

Both sides shared early half-chances as Hodkinson forced a comfortable save out of Linnets keeper Michael Emery, while Liam Caddick nodded over for Runcorn at the other end.

It was a cagey opening, but Linnets saw the better of the exchanges particularly through the influential pair of Shanley and the impressive Ryan Gibson, with the latter having the ball in the net only to be adjudged offside after 16 minutes.

Two minutes later, Runcorn were ahead. Slight miscommunication between Sam Heathcote and keeper Stone allowed Linnets to keep the pressure on and Michael Ellison’s men duly capitalised with Caddick threading pass through to Shanley, who rolled home a tidy finish at the near-post.

Widnes looked to respond as James Murray blazed over from just inside the area after Grogan did well to win possession back deep in Runcorn territory.

In truth, that was as close as the hosts got to mustering an equaliser, with the threat of the imposing Anointed Chukwu was nullified, while keeper Emery was excellent in claiming aerial balls into the area.

Murray would again look to threaten as the half drew to a close, but his long-range effort was easily saved by Emery.

There needed to be a response in the second half, but it was once again comfortable for Linnets, who looked the more likely side to grab the game’s crucial second goal.

It took a crucial Jay Roberts challenge to prevent Gibson doubling the visitors’ advantage as he burst into the area beyond the retreating Heathcote.

Runcorn would make it 2-0 midway through the second half. It was a soft goal to concede from Widnes’ point-of-view, but you cannot fault the quality of the strike.

Substitute James Steele lost possession in midfield and desperately chased down Gibson only to concede a free-kick on 25 yards from his own goal.

Steele was booked, and Corrigan compounded Widnes’ misery by finding the top corner with a sensational free-kick that left the outstretched Stone with no chance, sending the travelling hoard of Linnets into delirium.

Runcorn almost gifted Widnes a route back into the contest when Emery failed to collect Danny Ventre’s hopeful ball forward, with the stand-in hosts’ skipper seeing his punt roll inches wide of the post.

The Whites never looked like finding a way back into the contest, but Hodkinson set up a nervy finish when he found the corner with a superb finish after brilliantly bringing down Roberts’ lofted pass and turning Peter Wylie inside out.

Speaking after the game, joint-manager Towey felt that it would have been “daylight robbery” had Widnes escaped with a point, but the Whites very nearly got out of jail in stoppage time when Steele headed just wide from Danny Shaw’s flick-on, but it was Linnets who earned the early Halton Derby bragging rights.