REPORT | Isle of Man FA XI 1-0 Widnes

Widnes remain without a win in their pre-season campaign after slipping to a narrow 1-0 defeat against an Isle of Man FA XI in Douglas on Saturday.

The Whites created a number of chances at The Bowl but lacked the sharpness to make their opportunities count, with Sid Batty’s second half strike sealing victory for the hosts on the day.

Co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey once again fielded a 4-3-3 formation, with Owen Wheeler shielded by a back-four of Jay Roberts, Shaun Holden, Phil Mooney and skipper Mike Burke.

Danny Ventre, Michael Grogan and James Steele were tasked with pulling the strings in a midfield three to support the trio of Ben Hodkinson, Josh Klein-Davies and Lewis Buckley who led the line.

Paul Jones’ Isle of Man side enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the first half, with keeper Wheeler forced into a number of good saves as the game remained goalless.

Widnes’ best chance fell to Steele who hit the crossbar with a dipping cross from the right-hand side.

The Whites made eight changes at the break, with Sean Myler and Chris Lomax both featuring for the first time in pre-season. Elsewhere, full-backs Roberts and Holden were tasked with 75 and 80-minute appearances respectively.

The visitors upped the intensity following the break, with Conor Ready diverting an early chance off target after good work by Myler in the build-up.

Ready continued to threaten, and he combined well with Towey to muster an effort at goal moments later, but his shot was well-saved.

Myler would also be denied, before the hosts took the lead when Batty converted at the second attempt after having an initial saved superbly blocked by Wheeler.

Widnes then went in search of an elusive equaliser, with Ready seeing an effort beaten away while defender Joe Herbert headed into the side-netting from a corner.

Herbert’s effort would be as close as Widnes would come to an equaliser, and next up for the Whites is a trip to Runcorn Town on Tuesday night.

Widnes first-half XI: Wheeler, Roberts, Holden, Ventre, Burke, Mooney, Steele, Grogan, Klein-Davies, Hodkinson, Buckley

Widnes second-half XI: Wheeler, Roberts (Steele 75), Holden (Burke 80), Hajdari, Shaw, Herbert, Myler, Brazel, Ready, Towey, Lomax