Widnes fell to a 3-0 defeat away at Northern Premier League Premier Division side Buxton in their final pre-season game ahead of the big kick-off.

A trialist own goal, and second half goals from Martin Pilkington and Jude Oyibo lifted the Bucks to victory, but Widnes will be buoyed by a positive performance against higher-ranked opposition.

The aforementioned trialist made his debut at centre-half for Widnes alongside Danny Shaw, with co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey hopeful of his signing being confirmed before next Saturday’s league opener at Ramsbottom United.

Elsewhere, Harry Brazel and James Steele started on the flanks to support a Widnes front-line pairing of Josh Klein-Davies and Conor Ready, while Sam Sheen skippered the side.

Buxton perhaps edged the opening exchanges and looked dangerous on the break. Pilkington registered the game’s first effort on goal as he directed a looping header off target.

Moments later, Widnes keeper Owen Wheeler produced a stunning reaction save to keep out Pilkington, who met Brad Roscoe’s cross with a diving header.

But the Bucks would eventually find the breakthrough after 15 minutes. Left-back Dan Brown found space down the channel and looked to find his teammates with a cross, but his cut-back deflected against the feet of trialist, wrong-footing Wheeler on its way in.

Paul Phillips’ hosts seemed content to let Widnes control possession and look to hit the Whites’ on the counter-attack.

Widnes began to impose themselves as the half-hour approached but struggled to test Buxton goalkeeper Grant Shenton as the hosts went close again through Liam Hardy, who skewed an effort narrowly wide.

The Whites would engineer a decent opening minutes later, with Ready turning an effort wide after Shaun Holden combined well with Steele down the left.

In fact, Widnes could have been level at the break when Brazel raced clear to latch on to a well-weighted Steele pass, rounding the advancing Shenton but a heavy touch combined with pressure from Billy Priestley caused the move to break down.

Widnes ended the first half on top and picked up where they left off early in the second. Steele neatly played Klein-Davies in behind but his effort on goal was blocked well by Shenton.

Despite enjoying a decent spell, Widnes found themselves 2-0 down five minutes into the second half when Pilkington headed home from the substitute trialist’s cross.

Widnes still carried momentum and would create another opening as the Whites looked to respond quickly, but Brazel hit a dipping effort narrowly over the bar.

Attacking pair Ben Hodkinson and Lewis Buckley were introduced from the bench as Widnes went in search of a way back into the contest, but the tempo of the game was somewhat affected by both sides blooding a number of substitutes in attempt to make any final tweaks before the start of the new season.

Hodkinson would be at the forefront of two late Widnes forays forward. The striker had a hooked effort on goal well-saved by Buxton’s substitute trialist goalkeeper, before his outstretched leg couldn’t quite connect with a delicious ball in from Holden from the left moments later.

But Buxton would add a third five minutes from time. Widnes failed to deal with a corner, causing carnage in the Whites’ penalty area. Two efforts were blocked, but substitute Oyibo scrambled the ball over the line to complete the scoring for the Bucks.

Widnes: Wheeler, Roberts (Phillips 65), Holden, Hajdari, Shaw (Herbert 62), Trialist, Brazel (Lomax 62), Sheen, Klein-Davies (Hodkinson 56), Ready (Buckley 56), Steele (Grogan 68)

Subs not used: Burke, Hancocks (GK)

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