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Sat 21 Sep 2019  ·  North West Division
Workington AFC
2
0
Widnes Football Club
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REPORT | Workington 2-0 Widnes

REPORT | Workington 2-0 Widnes

Callum Chadwick24 Sep 2019 - 15:09
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Whites fall to away defeat

Widnes fell to their first league defeat since the opening day of the season with a 2-0 defeat at early pace-setters Workington.

A first half goal from Brad Carroll put the hosts in front but despite a series of second-half Widnes chances, the Reds added a second through an unfortunate Owen Wheeler own goal.

Co-bosses Kev Towey and Steve Akrigg made two changes to the side that won at Colne last time out, with Conor Ready and Ben Hodkinson both dropping to the bench with Harry Brazel and match-winner Michael Grogan restored to the starting line-up.

In a scrapping opening 20 minutes, it was Widnes who went closest to an opener when Grogan capitalised on a defensive mix up to get in behind, only to crash a powerful effort against the crossbar, with Lewis Buckley nodding over seconds later after Shaun Holden crossed the ball back into the area.

But the Reds showed their threat when Brad Hubbold marauded forward with a terrific solo run to tee up Scott Allison, but his effort was blocked by the body of Danny Shaw despite strong appeals from the hosts for handball.

The game had sprung into life after the midway point of the first half with both sides trading blows. Brazel had a close-range effort charged down before David Symington drove past Fisnik Hajdari to force a solid save out of Wheeler moments later.

Neither side had gained control of the contest but it was Workington who went in front on the half-hour. It was a gift from Widnes’ point-of-view as Shaw left an aerial ball for the awaiting Wheeler but Carroll exploited a moment of confusion to nip in ahead of the goalkeeper and walk home an opener.

Hubbold looked to add a second for the Reds only to draw a fine save out of Wheeler, but Widnes were still firmly in the contest but were beginning to rue a lack of good fortune in front of goal.

Skipper Sam Sheen had the latest Widnes effort on goal towards the end of the half, perhaps snatching at a volley that drifted high and wide.

League-leaders Workington began the second half with a renewed sense of energy, starting the stronger of the two sides.

Symington floated a ball in that narrowly evaded Nathan Waterson but Widnes were denied an equaliser by a last ditch Dan Wordsworth intervention to clear Brazel’s seemingly goal-bound effort off the line with goalkeeper Alex Mitchell beaten.

It was Workington who would grab the crucial second goal 15 minutes from time. Substitute Conor Tinnion whipped a corner in towards the six-yard area that was fumbled over the line by Wheeler, incensing a number of Widnes players who felt that their goalkeeper was fouled as he attempted to claim the cross.

The Whites would have felt aggrieved to be on the end of a two-goal deficit by conceding two freak efforts, meaning that Towey and Akrigg’s side drop to 13th ahead of Tuesday’s derby at Prescot Cables.

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Sep 2019

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

389

Competition

North West Division

League position

1
Workington AFC
13
Widnes
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