Wigan Robin Park 2-1 Widnes FC

Goals from Joseph Newbold and Daniel Davies seen Wigan past a spirited Widnes side.
The home side started the game strongly claiming the first half chance just after kick off, Newbold’s shot lacked conviction and Cork saved comfortably. With a number of new signings for the away side, early signs suggested that they were gelling well. Alex Davies put in a tempting cross for Joel Douglas to head towards goal, but he couldn’t find the target. Shortly after the home side broke from a Widnes corner and a mistake by Cork in goal seen the score line opened. Newbold got Wigan’s first goal of the new season when he fired the ball past a stricken Cork. Widnes responded well after going behind early. They showed signs of some good patient build play but lacked the final ball to trouble the home side. Captain Gary Williams was disappointed with the way the 2 goals were conceded but praised the team’s second half display “The first half defensively was a bit disappointing. We started slow, I think we were a bit nervous to be honest. The second half, we were possibly the better team. We will get better as the season goes on.”
As the game wore on the midfield area became an important battle to gain control. Chris Williams had a chance to make 2-0 but he was unable to direct his header goal wards after been found unmarked in the box by a cross from Grant Whitfield. The second goal soon followed, Daniel Davies found the room to shoot from outside the box, and Cork looked set only for a wicked deflection to leave him stranded in his own box.
Widnes started the second half strongly as they began to search for a way back into this game. Steve Hill decided to change things at half time, bringing on Daniel Lomax for Michael Boyle, this pushed Alex Davies forward where he had more of an impact on the game. He had a tame shot saved before Douglas found him open on the edge of the box, only for his shot to be blocked. It was very much backs to the wall for the home side as they defended wave after wave of Widnes attacks. Molloy had a header cleared of the line before his free kick was scuffed by the keeper, Bradley Williams pounced on the loose ball to find Joel Douglas who put the ball into the empty net with a cool, calm finish. Lady luck had deserted the away side for much of the game and certainly didn’t strike in added on time when they had a goal disallowed for a foul in the box. With 4 minutes added on time, the away team never gave up hope of rescuing this game. A delightful McCarthy free kick tested the ability of the Wigan centre backs which they duly pasted.
Manager Steve Hill was disappointed with the result but impressed with the second half display “I was disappointed, as you always are when you get beat. I was pleased with the second half, obviously we shot ourselves in the foot in the first half to give the type of goals that we gave away.” Widnes can take a lot of heart from their second half display. They dominated the half and showed fantastic ball retention in midfield for the large majority of the half. Oldham Boro visit the Select Security Stadium next weekend as Widnes look to get there first 3 points of the season on the board.

Match Report by Stephen Charlesworth.