REPORT | Runcorn Town 0-1 Widnes

Conor Ready struck 11 minutes from time as Widnes ran-out 1-0 winners at neighbours Runcorn Town.

Ready’s second half goal secured victory for the Whites in a game played in scorching heat on a long and dry playing surface at the Viridor Community Stadium.

It was a fourth pre-season outing for Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey’s side, who are now up and running ahead of another local derby friendly against Warrington Town on Friday night.

There were starts for Jake Phillips, Ready and Chris Lomax while Phil Mooney and Joe Herbert anchored the back-four.

Elsewhere, Towey, Mike Burke, Sean Myler and Danny Ventre were all unavailable despite featuring in Saturday’s loss in the Isle of Man.

Lewis Buckley was preferred to Josh Klein-Davies as the lone central striker, and he had Widnes’ first opportunity, driving a daisy-cutter straight at Adam Reid after the visitors had fashioned a decent opening.

Kevin Exell then threatened for Town, looking to capitalise on a mistake by Phillips but Herbert recovered well to block the shot.

Both sides were limited to half-chances with Lomax blazing over for Widnes while David Forbes skewed an effort off target after breaking clear for Runcorn.

While Town predominantly went direct and looked to hit Widnes on the break, the Whites retained possession well with Harry Brazel particularly busy as Shaun Holden looked to provide width from left-back.

Buckley would again go close, firing over after getting fortunate with a loose ball that bounced back to his feet.

Widnes, without a goal to this point in pre-season, continued to create chances but lacked the cutting edge to open the scoring with Lomax volleying off target on the spin while Ready headed wide after meeting a delicious Buckley delivery.

Unlike the previous friendlies, there were only two half-time substitutions as James Steele and Danny Shaw were both introduced from the bench.

There was almost an early second half catastrophe for Runcorn as goalkeeper Reid was seemingly caught napping by a wayward backpass that left the shot-stopper scrambling back towards his own goal to clear the danger.

Even at this early stage of pre-season, a notable trait in Widnes’ play is the solidity at the back, particularly with ex-Marine man Shaw once again putting in impressive performance as part of a back-four shielding Owen Wheeler.

Beyond the hour, Widnes stepped up the intensity in the searing heat, with Ready and Michael Grogan combining well with Buckley who dragged an effort off target.

Craig Cairns, a scorer of more than a goal-per-game in the previous three seasons, was brought on for Town but proved ineffective against the pair of Herbert and Shaw at the heart of the Widnes defence.

Town seemed to fade as the second half wore on, and Widnes would eventually make the breakthrough.

There was an element of good fortune about what proved to be the winner as the lively Ben Hodkinson spearheaded a Widnes attack. He seemingly ran into trouble but the ball broke to Ready, who fired home from just inside the area via the far-post.

It should have been 2-0 moments later as Hodkinson again threatened, providing a cut-back for Klein-Davies who couldn’t quite get a shot away. Instead, a loose ball broke to Brazel who wildly blazed off target.

Ninety-minute outings for Wheeler, Holden, Herbert, Brazel, Lomax and Ready was a major positive to take away from the contest, as Widnes recorded their first win of their pre-season campaign.

Further friendlies against Warrington, Ashton Town, FC St Helens, Market Drayton Town and Buxton are to follow before Widnes’ Northern Premier League season gets underway with a trip to Ramsbottom United on 17 August.

Widnes first-half XI: Wheeler, Phillips (Roberts 41), Holden, Hajdari, Mooney, Herbert, Brazel, Grogan, Buckley, Ready, Lomax

Widnes second-half XI: Wheeler, Steele, Holden, Hajdari (Grogan 77), Shaw, Herbert, Brazel, Grogan (Klein-Davies 62), Buckley (Hodkinson 66), Ready, Lomax