Goals from Ben Hodkinson and Conor Ready had Widnes 2-0 up and cruising, but a Danny Shaw red card on the stroke of half-time ultimately proved costly as Rammy rallied in the second half to produce a thrilling fight-back.

Nic Evangelinos reduced the arrears almost immediately from the second half kick-off, with further goals from Iyrwah Gooden and a late Ruben Jerome winner ensured that last season’s beaten play-off semi-finalists started the new BetVictor Northern Premier League Division One North/West season with victory.

Five summer signings made their competitive debuts for Widnes while another, Josh Klein-Davies, was ultimately an unused substitute. Shaw was partnered by Keenan Quansah at centre-half while Fisnik Hajdari played alongside stand-in skipper Sam Sheen in midfield.

Elsewhere, James Steele featured on the right of a Widnes trio that supported Lewis Buckley up-front.

It was Steele who threatened early as Widnes made a good start. The former Newcastle Town man raced in-behind a high Ramsbottom backline, but he could only drag his effort across the face of goal and wide as a decent early opening went begging.

Widnes’ dominance proved dividends as the visitors would open the scoring after 11 minutes. Hodkinson, top goalscorer last season, opened his account on the opening day of the season with a well-taken finish. He took a Hajdari pass in stride, turned Kelvin Bleau inside out, and fired into the far corner. The perfect start for the Whites.

Rammy would threaten with their first real chance of the game minutes later as a loose ball fell kindly for Daniel Naidole, but his powerful effort on goal was superbly beaten away by Owen Wheeler.

But the momentum was with Widnes. Steele in particular was finding joy beyond the Rams’ backline and he fizzed a cross in for Hodkinson, but his effort was straight at keeper Tom Stewart.

Less than a minute later, Widnes doubled their advantage. Hodkinson was running riot and tormenting Rams right-back Bleau, cutting a cross back for Conor Ready to strike into the top corner with the Whites in total control.

It could have been 3-0 on the half-hour mark. The visitors worked yet another good opening and Hodkinson threaded a pass through to Buckley to blaze over – a chance the former Airbus UK man would have liked back.

Ramsbottom offered very little attacking threat but the game was turned on its head on the stroke of half-time. Shaw mis-judged a long ball over the top allowing Gooden to nip in behind only to be bundled over by a clumsy challenge from the defender. Referee Mark Ryder had little choice but brandish the red card and show the former Marine man his marching orders.

The dismissal was the only negative in an excellent first-half display from Widnes, but it gave the largely ineffective Rams hope heading in at the break.

Ramsbottom would make the perfect start to the second half. The red card seemed to unsettle Widnes and the Rams capitalised with Evangelinos sweeping home within 30 seconds of the restart to halve the Whites’ advantage.

It was the worst possible start to the second half from a Widnes point-of-view, who were left to perhaps a rue a number of missed chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Rammy manager Chris Willcock opted to introduce Khalil Osi-Efa at right-back in place of the struggling Bleau at the half-time, but the substitute was perhaps fortunate only to see yellow after catching Buckley high with a late challenge that incensed the Widnes bench only a few yards away.

Evangelinos would spur a good opportunity for Ramsbottom minutes later as Widnes introduced Harry Brazel from the bench to add a renewed sense of energy for the 10-man visitors.

Jamie Rother would fire over and Gooden wide as Rammy enjoyed a good spell in pursuit of an equaliser as Widnes sat deep and invited pressure.

The pressure eventually told as Ramsbottom would equalise 15 minutes from time as Gooden headed home from a free-kick, setting up a dramatic finish.

Widnes, determined to get something out of the game that their first half performance deserved, fought back and could have re-taken the lead on two separate occasions.

Hodkinson hit the bar with cross that left Rams keeper Stewart scrambling while the busy Steele looked certain to score after a marauding run forward from inside his own half, but he could only direct his effort straight at the goalkeeper.

Ramsbottom would ultimately grab a stoppage time winner as Jerome rose highest to nod beyond Wheeler, condemning Widnes to defeat who deserved much more on the day.