REPORT | Trafford 0-2 Widnes

A pair of headed goals from James Steele and Jamie Rainford combined with a fine defensive display was enough to see Widnes earn an impressive 2-0 win at Trafford on Saturday.

Widnes were the better side throughout, and their margin of victory could have been wider had Ben Hodkinson not blazed a first half penalty off target with the scoreline finely poised at 0-0.

Stand-in skipper Jay Roberts ultimately provided two pinpoint crosses in the second half that were guided home by Steele and Rainford as the Whites bounced back from disappointment at Marine last time out in perfect fashion.

Defender Ste Hoy was one of five changes as he came into the side following a midweek move from Bootle.

Elsewhere, Hodkinson, Steele and co-boss Kev Towey were restored to the starting line-up as Rainford, George Webster and the injured Mike Burke all made way.

Richie Mottram returned to the club and started in goal following the departure of Tom Scott.

Trafford were unbeaten in five games in all competitions coming into the contest, but it was Widnes who started on the front foot with Hodkinson forcing a pair of early saves out of Matt Cooper.

Ryan Jennings and Kingsley Williams then both struck efforts off target as the Whites pressed for an opener on a superb playing surface at Shawe View.

But the hosts gradually grew into the contest and after Darius Palma had a shot blocked by Mottram, Max Hazeldine squandered a gilt-edged opportunity for Trafford as he dragged an effort wide after latching on to Lewis Salmon’s cutback.

Widnes were awarded a penalty seven minutes before the break. Jennings drove forward and forced his way into the area before being felled by Curtis Miller, but Hodkinson wasted the opportunity as he struck high and wide of the mark.

The Whites carried their momentum into the second half and ultimately produced a display amongst their best of the season.

Ten minutes after the restart, Widnes were ahead. Moments after seeing a golden chance go begging, Steele made amends by notching his side in front.

Roberts provided the assist, floating a delicious cross deep into the area where Steele had peeled away from his marker to find the far corner with a well-taken header.

Trafford looked to respond by making a double change that saw Ross Davidson introduced to play a makeshift quarterback role in front of back-three.

It had little impact as Rainford – introduced as a substitute for Towey moments later – produced a disciplined performance to man mark Davidson out of the contest in an astute tactical switch from the Widnes management team.

Jennings would go close with a curling free-kick that dipped narrowly wide of the post, but Widnes netted a decisive second goal 10 minutes from time.

It was a slick move down the right kick-started by former Trafford man Williams, who won possession back in midfield to quickly release the run of James Murray.

Right-back Roberts got forward on the overlap and drove to the byline to float a cross in for Rainford who found the net with a clinical header – his second Widnes goal since returning to the club from Mossley.

It was a relatively quiet afternoon on his return for Mottram, but he showed his class in stoppage time with two fantastic saves to preserve his clean sheet. He tipped an Oli Roberts on to the crossbar superbly, before getting down quickly to thwart a goalbound Sam Baird header as Widnes held on for a massive three points.