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Vikings winless run continues after draw in Staffordshire
Widnes Football Club24 Mar 2014 - 13:06
The Vikings long winless run stretched to 7 games after a score draw away at Eccleshall. There were improving signs going forward for the away side.
A low cross from winger Paul Cliff found Ben Tollitt open, the youngster forced a superb save from Eccleshall keeper Christopher Middleton- Hill. The home side played a high line in hope of catching the Vikings strike force offside. This worked for large portions of the game, but it lacked consistency as the away side found space down the left hand side time and time again throughout the game.
In a first half of good attacking spells from both teams, Michael Smith fired a free kick just over the bar as Widnes pressed to strike first. Eccleshall’s first real chance on goal fell too captain Anthony Marshall who forced a fantastic reflex save from Vikings keeper Jack Earle. Soon after Craig Hulme fired another chance wide. It was almost like neither team wanted to score for much of the half. Ben Tollitt found space down the right to cut inside to let fire but it skimmed post and went out for a goal kick.
With the game still goalless, the home side took the initiative in the early minutes of the second half. Angelo Errico’s tried his luck from the left hand side of the away side’s box but his shot cannoned of the bar. After that Widnes once again found their feet when Paul Cliff whipped in a low free kick which had Middleton- Hill scrambling to keep the ball out. Then soon after Joseph Brizell forced him into a fantastic save to keep the scores level.
The heavy rain made a return and with pitch conditions worsening, Jack Earle lost his footing when coming out to challenge Daniel King, King stayed calm to slot the ball past the stricken keeper to open the scoring. Vikings manager Steve Hill said “Jack slipped but whether that is poor positioning or whatever only Jack can tell you that. He did slip over and they capitalised on that to score.”
Eccleshall manager Shaun Hollinshead said on the goal “I thought most definitely yes, we had our bit of luck there but the penalty we could have been a bit lucky and he might not have given it, it’s one of those. I think it evened out at the end, it was a poor game being honest.”
Beforehand Graham Molloy had a chance to put the away side in front but his chipped effort found its way over the bar.
The Vikings continued to pressure the Ecclesshall back four in search for that all important equaliser. A muddle in the box lead to a Vikings penalty in dying minutes of the game. A lifeline for the away side. Ronnie McCarthy took on the responsibility of grabbing his team a deserved point. He didn’t disappoint as he calmly slotted the spot kick past Middleton- Hill to earn his team a much needed point. Hollinshead said after the game “I said to them at half time, the first team to score should win the game because I couldn’t see the other team coming back. To go 1-0 up and to concede a penalty again, it is getting into a bit of a pattern. We have lost points four times now this season through the same thing. A little bit of discipline, a little bit more energy when we need it, disappointed really.”
An entertaining draw for all to see at Pershall Park. Steve Hill said after the game “Made up that we got a point because it would have been easy for our heads to go down after conceding a goal late on. We did have chances to put the game to bed but we never took them, then they hit us on the break. For them it was a good goal but for us it was a poor goal to concede at that time. It would have been easy for the lad’s heads to go down, instead it seemed to have lifted them up a gear and we just kept of pushing and pushing.” Hill will now focus his attention towards another away trip to Atherton Collieries on Monday night.
In a first half of good attacking spells from both teams, Michael Smith fired a free kick just over the bar as Widnes pressed to strike first. Eccleshall’s first real chance on goal fell too captain Anthony Marshall who forced a fantastic reflex save from Vikings keeper Jack Earle. Soon after Craig Hulme fired another chance wide. It was almost like neither team wanted to score for much of the half. Ben Tollitt found space down the right to cut inside to let fire but it skimmed post and went out for a goal kick.
With the game still goalless, the home side took the initiative in the early minutes of the second half. Angelo Errico’s tried his luck from the left hand side of the away side’s box but his shot cannoned of the bar. After that Widnes once again found their feet when Paul Cliff whipped in a low free kick which had Middleton- Hill scrambling to keep the ball out. Then soon after Joseph Brizell forced him into a fantastic save to keep the scores level.
The heavy rain made a return and with pitch conditions worsening, Jack Earle lost his footing when coming out to challenge Daniel King, King stayed calm to slot the ball past the stricken keeper to open the scoring. Vikings manager Steve Hill said “Jack slipped but whether that is poor positioning or whatever only Jack can tell you that. He did slip over and they capitalised on that to score.”
Eccleshall manager Shaun Hollinshead said on the goal “I thought most definitely yes, we had our bit of luck there but the penalty we could have been a bit lucky and he might not have given it, it’s one of those. I think it evened out at the end, it was a poor game being honest.”
Beforehand Graham Molloy had a chance to put the away side in front but his chipped effort found its way over the bar.
The Vikings continued to pressure the Ecclesshall back four in search for that all important equaliser. A muddle in the box lead to a Vikings penalty in dying minutes of the game. A lifeline for the away side. Ronnie McCarthy took on the responsibility of grabbing his team a deserved point. He didn’t disappoint as he calmly slotted the spot kick past Middleton- Hill to earn his team a much needed point. Hollinshead said after the game “I said to them at half time, the first team to score should win the game because I couldn’t see the other team coming back. To go 1-0 up and to concede a penalty again, it is getting into a bit of a pattern. We have lost points four times now this season through the same thing. A little bit of discipline, a little bit more energy when we need it, disappointed really.”
An entertaining draw for all to see at Pershall Park. Steve Hill said after the game “Made up that we got a point because it would have been easy for our heads to go down after conceding a goal late on. We did have chances to put the game to bed but we never took them, then they hit us on the break. For them it was a good goal but for us it was a poor goal to concede at that time. It would have been easy for the lad’s heads to go down, instead it seemed to have lifted them up a gear and we just kept of pushing and pushing.” Hill will now focus his attention towards another away trip to Atherton Collieries on Monday night.
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