First Team
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Sat 31 Aug 2019  ·  North West Division
Marske United
A Stephenson (69')
1
1
Widnes Football Club
First Team
J Klein-Davies (72')
REPORT | Marske United 1-1 Widnes

REPORT | Marske United 1-1 Widnes

Callum Chadwick1 Sep 2019 - 18:59
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Widnes earn a point in the North East

Widnes earned a good point from their trip to Marske United on Saturday, emerging from the North East with a 1-1 draw.

Chances were few and far between at Mount Pleasant and the 266 in attendance were made to wait until the 69th minute for a goal when Andrew Stephenson rolled an effort beyond Owen Wheeler.

But Widnes hit back almost immediately with Josh Klein-Davies bundling an effort over the line from close-range after Ben Hodkinson had an initial shot saved in what proved to be a fair result.

It was a competitive first-ever meeting between two sides harbouring play-off ambitions come the end of the season, but both teams lacked the quality to seal all three points.

Widnes welcomed back Jay Roberts at right-back with Danny Ventre unavailable in the only change from the side held to a goalless draw at Kendal Town last time out.

Elsewhere, there was a place on the bench for the returning Harry Brazel with Chris Lomax moving to Burscough on a dual-registration deal.

It was a slow start to the game with neither side seeing a glimpse of goal in the early exchanges.

Marske suffered a blow inside the opening 10 minutes when former Middlesbrough forward Lewis Maloney was forced off with an ankle injury, forcing a change and a slight reshuffle to the hosts’ 4-3-3 formation with the introduction of Leon Scott.

Widnes would fashion the first decent sight of goal when Hodkinson hit a daisy-cutter from 25 yards that was comfortable for United keeper Jack Norton.

But the Whites would survive a scare midway through the half when Keenan Quansah couldn’t quite deal with a cross which fell kindly for Curtis Round, but the in-form Marske marksman’s effort clipped the top of the bar on its way over.

Conor Ready would hit a dipping volley wide as Widnes looked to respond, before Hodkinson unselfishly squared for Klein-Davies minutes later when he was perhaps better served taking the shot on himself, with the chance ultimately breaking down.

Widnes looked threatening on the break against a direct Marske side who created a decent opening on the stroke of half-time, but substitute Scott would scuff his effort into the gloves of Wheeler.

The home side perhaps edged the first half but it was Widnes who enjoyed the better of the second period, and Hodkinson really should have fired the visitors ahead when he latched on to Ready’s through-ball. The striker could only scuff his effort into gloves of a relieved Norton who had to retreat back to his goal-line.

It was all to play for as the game reached the hour-mark but despite both sides looking threatening, neither team asserted themselves and goalkeepers Norton and Wheeler enjoyed relatively untested afternoons.

Mathew Garbutt would superbly turn in the area for Marske but could only shoot wildly off target while Norton had to be alert to make a save at the feet of Hodkinson who was perhaps harshly flagged offside.

Widnes were enjoying their best spell but were pegged back when Marske took the lead against the run of play.

A loose ball sat up nicely for Stephenson who notched the hosts ahead with a scruffy effort that nestled in the back of the net.

The Whites didn’t deserve to be behind and quickly looked to respond with substitute Harry Brazel producing a good bit of footwork to cut inside to tee up Sam Sheen, but his powerful effort was beaten away by a strong glove from Norton.

Widnes would equalise less than three minutes after falling behind. Marske were again undone by the Ready and Hodkinson connection with the latter racing clear to force a parried save out of Norton.

The hosts couldn’t clear the danger, and Klein-Davies would react quickest to prod the loose ball over the line to level the score – his third goal in four games.

It felt as though Widnes were the more likely side to go on and win the game, but despite a couple of decent openings, they failed to test Norton.

Klein-Davies would spurn a great chance to win it in stoppage time but snatched at his shot from a tight angle, blazing high and wide with the last kick of the game.

Match details

Match date

Sat 31 Aug 2019

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

266

Competition

North West Division

League position

3
Marske United
12
Widnes
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