REPORT | Stalybridge Celtic 4-3 Widnes

Widnes suffered a crushing loss at Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday to dent their play-off ambitions in the Northern Premier League West.

The Whites were 2-0 up inside the game's opening four minutes when James Steele netted a brace.

His first came after just 13.68 seconds - the fastest NPL goal of the season - sweeping in a shot from Jack McGowan's squared pass.

He headed in his second from a Brendan O'Brien cross to notch his 15th goal of the campaign.

But Widnes surrendered that advantage and went in at half-time level.

Two unmarked headed goals from Max Leonard in the 11th and 40th minutes of the contest dragged Stalybridge back into the contest - a pair of almost identical finishes that would have infuriated Widnes boss Michael Ellison.

Although it did take a superb Luke Hewitson save to prevent the Whites from re-taking the lead in first half stoppage time, producing a strong glove to push a Matty Rain free-kick away to safety.

Widnes will have questioned just how they managed to conspire to lose this contest.

Sean Miller had an effort cleared off the line by his own teammate McGowan early in the second half, while Hewitson was again called into action, saving well from O'Brien's close-range header.

But it was Stalybridge who grabbed the game's all-important fifth goal when Cole Lonsdale's slightly over-hit free-kick evaded everyone and nestled in the top far corner with Whites keeper Cameron Terry beaten.

Widnes, to their credit, responded magnificently.

Miller had another effort cleared off the line, this time by Connor O'Grady, before the Whites were awarded a penalty four minutes from time.

Greg Wilkinson was penalised for handball and Miller made no mistake from 12 yards, squeezing his spot-kick beneath Hewitson to seemingly rescue a point.

But this topsy-turvy game still had more drama in it as Celtic were awarded their own penalty inside second half stoppage time, with Will Bell penalised for a soft foul on Ntumba Massanka.

And Lonsdale duly dispatched his spot-kick to steal all three points for Stalybridge and re-invigorate their own play-off charge, while seriously harming Widnes' chances.