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Tuck runs the show as Widnes end season in disappointing fashion
Widnes Football Club30 Apr 2015 - 15:03
An under-strength Widnes side ended their season in disappointing fashion as a rampant Barnton beat Steve Hill’s side 7-0 at Townfield.
Due to suspensions, injuries and players making themselves unavailable, Widnes travelled to Townfield severely under-strength, missing a total of nine players who could have played a part in the fixture. Injuries to goalkeepers David Nevitt and Rob Cork meant that goalkeeping coach Paul Pennington started in goal for the visitors.
Also on the list of absentees were the suspended James Ludgate and Paul Carney whilst Luke Colford joined the aforementioned keepers and defenders Alex Davies and Gary Williams on the injury list. Graham Molloy and Paul Cliff were unavailable for selection.
This game marked the fourth time that these two sides have met this season. Barnton had the edge 2-1 having won the corresponding league fixture 4-2 in January, as well as a Reusch First Division Cup tie back in November. The previous game at Townfield saw Widnes run out 1-0 winners in the 1st round of the Men United Cup back in September courtesy of a James Ludgate winner.
Barnton came into this game needing a win to make the First Division playoffs. Recent results meant that The Villagers’ fate was no longer in their hands and that they had to rely on Holker Old Boys or Chadderton dropping points in their fixtures. Widnes picked up their first win in 6 games last time out as they comfortably beat Wigan Robin Park 2-0 at the Select Security Stadium.
Despite the weakened side fielded by Widnes boss Steve Hill, Widnes started the game brightly and threatened early on. Brandon Goudie, who came into the game having netted his first goal for the club in the victory over Wigan, did well down the right to get away from left-back Joe Fielding and fire a shot towards goal that wasn’t too far away as it drifted wide of the left upright.
Barnton took the lead five minutes into the game. Player-Manager Leon Knight, who made his name in the Football League during spells at the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion after starting his career at Chelsea, showed off quick-feet that allowed him to avoid a challenge from Widnes skipper Tom Mitchell and engineer space for a cross that Tuck turned into the back of the net to record his 6th goal of the season.
Barnton had a second goal ruled out for offside half way through the opening 45 minutes. Lloyd Dean’s initial shot was spilled by keeper Pennington with Knight crossing the ball back into the penalty area where Tuck thought he’d netted his second of the game. However, the linesman on the near side had flagged for offside.
Widnes struggled to look threatening offensively as they frequently where put on the back foot by the strong firepower of Barnton’s attack. Shortly before the half-hour mark, a Colin Quirk corner was only half-cleared by the visitors with the ball falling to Stephen Rothwell who headed his effort wide of the target.
Barnton did eventually double their lead four minutes later. Skipper Quirk picked out Lloyd Dean with an excellent pass. Dean managed to work his way into space before pulling the ball back to Tuck who stabbed the ball into the back of the net to double his account for the game and Barnton’s advantage.
Barnton continued to press as the half grew older. Kevin Pollard linked up well with Knight who showed off excellent ball control before delivering a great cross into the penalty area that was headed over by Jason McShane.
Keeper Pennington, who was thrown into the firing line prior to the game, managed to hold his own between the sticks and he pulled off a double save to prevent Barnton from having a 3-0 halftime lead. Quirk took a corner that was met by McShane who forced a decent save out of Pennington who then denied Jordan Stafford’s rebound before Widnes defender Ben Cartwright averted further danger as he managed to clear the ball away.
Barnton began the second half in similar fashion to which they ended the first as they increased their lead as Jesse Robinson’s cross into the area wasn’t properly dealt with before Shaun Tuck completed his hat-trick as he turned the loose ball into the back of the net with a clinical finish.
Four minutes later, Tuck scored again. The Barnton forward did extremely well to get away from Tom Mitchell as he advanced on goal before netting his fourth of the game with a superb finish as he curled the ball away from Pennington and into the bottom corner to record his 9th goal of the season.
It was an impressive spell for Barnton as they made it 5-0 shortly before the hour-mark. Substitute Anthony Wynne did well down the left to pull the ball back into the path of Jesse Robinson who slotted his shot into the back of the net to record his 4th goal of the season.
Barnton continued to impress as they limited to Widnes to half-chances as they pushed for more goals. On the 73-minute mark, a Tuck corner was met by a towering header from defender Kevin Pollard whose effort was too hot to handle for Pennington who could only tip the header on to the crossbar and in. This goal was the 100th that Widnes had conceded in the league this season.
As news began to filter through that Chadderton and Holker were winning their respective games which left Barnton outside of the playoff positions, the hosts did not relent with their attacking prowess. Substitute Ryan Malone completed the scoring for Leon Knight’s side five minutes from time. Knight played an exquisite pass into the path of Wynne who pulled the ball back to Malone who made no mistake with his finish, as he slotted the ball into the back of the net.
There was still time for Widnes to threaten with their best chance of the game. Inside stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes, forward Sam Coulter linked up well with Jay Cooper as the former rifled a shot towards goal that Barnton keeper Adam Judge brilliantly tipped over the bar to preserve his clean sheet.
The final whistle brought mixed reactions from the Barnton faithful. Results elsewhere meant that The Villagers would miss out on a playoff spot despite being positioned inside the top-6 for long periods of the season.
As for Widnes, the result was yet another heavy defeat in what has been a disappointing second season in the North West Counties Football League. However, despite the result, manager Hill was pleased with his side’s efforts. The lads who turned up did the club proud as they never give up as they pushed Barnton all the way despite the unfavourable circumstances and ever-increasing deficit.
Match Report by Callum Chadwick
Also on the list of absentees were the suspended James Ludgate and Paul Carney whilst Luke Colford joined the aforementioned keepers and defenders Alex Davies and Gary Williams on the injury list. Graham Molloy and Paul Cliff were unavailable for selection.
This game marked the fourth time that these two sides have met this season. Barnton had the edge 2-1 having won the corresponding league fixture 4-2 in January, as well as a Reusch First Division Cup tie back in November. The previous game at Townfield saw Widnes run out 1-0 winners in the 1st round of the Men United Cup back in September courtesy of a James Ludgate winner.
Barnton came into this game needing a win to make the First Division playoffs. Recent results meant that The Villagers’ fate was no longer in their hands and that they had to rely on Holker Old Boys or Chadderton dropping points in their fixtures. Widnes picked up their first win in 6 games last time out as they comfortably beat Wigan Robin Park 2-0 at the Select Security Stadium.
Despite the weakened side fielded by Widnes boss Steve Hill, Widnes started the game brightly and threatened early on. Brandon Goudie, who came into the game having netted his first goal for the club in the victory over Wigan, did well down the right to get away from left-back Joe Fielding and fire a shot towards goal that wasn’t too far away as it drifted wide of the left upright.
Barnton took the lead five minutes into the game. Player-Manager Leon Knight, who made his name in the Football League during spells at the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion after starting his career at Chelsea, showed off quick-feet that allowed him to avoid a challenge from Widnes skipper Tom Mitchell and engineer space for a cross that Tuck turned into the back of the net to record his 6th goal of the season.
Barnton had a second goal ruled out for offside half way through the opening 45 minutes. Lloyd Dean’s initial shot was spilled by keeper Pennington with Knight crossing the ball back into the penalty area where Tuck thought he’d netted his second of the game. However, the linesman on the near side had flagged for offside.
Widnes struggled to look threatening offensively as they frequently where put on the back foot by the strong firepower of Barnton’s attack. Shortly before the half-hour mark, a Colin Quirk corner was only half-cleared by the visitors with the ball falling to Stephen Rothwell who headed his effort wide of the target.
Barnton did eventually double their lead four minutes later. Skipper Quirk picked out Lloyd Dean with an excellent pass. Dean managed to work his way into space before pulling the ball back to Tuck who stabbed the ball into the back of the net to double his account for the game and Barnton’s advantage.
Barnton continued to press as the half grew older. Kevin Pollard linked up well with Knight who showed off excellent ball control before delivering a great cross into the penalty area that was headed over by Jason McShane.
Keeper Pennington, who was thrown into the firing line prior to the game, managed to hold his own between the sticks and he pulled off a double save to prevent Barnton from having a 3-0 halftime lead. Quirk took a corner that was met by McShane who forced a decent save out of Pennington who then denied Jordan Stafford’s rebound before Widnes defender Ben Cartwright averted further danger as he managed to clear the ball away.
Barnton began the second half in similar fashion to which they ended the first as they increased their lead as Jesse Robinson’s cross into the area wasn’t properly dealt with before Shaun Tuck completed his hat-trick as he turned the loose ball into the back of the net with a clinical finish.
Four minutes later, Tuck scored again. The Barnton forward did extremely well to get away from Tom Mitchell as he advanced on goal before netting his fourth of the game with a superb finish as he curled the ball away from Pennington and into the bottom corner to record his 9th goal of the season.
It was an impressive spell for Barnton as they made it 5-0 shortly before the hour-mark. Substitute Anthony Wynne did well down the left to pull the ball back into the path of Jesse Robinson who slotted his shot into the back of the net to record his 4th goal of the season.
Barnton continued to impress as they limited to Widnes to half-chances as they pushed for more goals. On the 73-minute mark, a Tuck corner was met by a towering header from defender Kevin Pollard whose effort was too hot to handle for Pennington who could only tip the header on to the crossbar and in. This goal was the 100th that Widnes had conceded in the league this season.
As news began to filter through that Chadderton and Holker were winning their respective games which left Barnton outside of the playoff positions, the hosts did not relent with their attacking prowess. Substitute Ryan Malone completed the scoring for Leon Knight’s side five minutes from time. Knight played an exquisite pass into the path of Wynne who pulled the ball back to Malone who made no mistake with his finish, as he slotted the ball into the back of the net.
There was still time for Widnes to threaten with their best chance of the game. Inside stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes, forward Sam Coulter linked up well with Jay Cooper as the former rifled a shot towards goal that Barnton keeper Adam Judge brilliantly tipped over the bar to preserve his clean sheet.
The final whistle brought mixed reactions from the Barnton faithful. Results elsewhere meant that The Villagers would miss out on a playoff spot despite being positioned inside the top-6 for long periods of the season.
As for Widnes, the result was yet another heavy defeat in what has been a disappointing second season in the North West Counties Football League. However, despite the result, manager Hill was pleased with his side’s efforts. The lads who turned up did the club proud as they never give up as they pushed Barnton all the way despite the unfavourable circumstances and ever-increasing deficit.
Match Report by Callum Chadwick
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