Widnes FC 1 NVFC 1 FA Cup

COMPETITION - F.A Cup extra preliminary round. DATE - Saturday 11 August 2018.

VENUE - Townfield, Barnton, Northwich.

Attendance - 126.

Unavailable for Vics’ - Brian Matthews (ankle), Matty Clarke (tibia), Billy Webb (thigh).

LINE-UP’S -
Widnes - Mottram, Roberts (Graham 76’), Doran, Sheen (Pollard 50’), Cartwright (caution), Burke (C) (caution), Chris Lomax (Towey 76’) (caution), Ventre, George Lomax (caution), Hodkinson, Korie-Butler. Un-used subs’ - Akrigg, Johnstone, Jones, Webster.

Vics’ -
Taberner, Camozzi, Kenny, Barksi, Monson (caution), Craig, Whittle, Cooke (C), Connolly (McDonald 81’ (caution), Brownhill, Doran (caution). Un-used subs’ - Shinks, Bickett, Gorman, Ayres, Whittington, Neild (GK).

GOALS - Widnes - Ben Hodkinson 2’ (Pen).

Vics’ - Robert Doran 54’.

This F.A Cup tie started under leaden skies and a pitch that was very hard and bumpy.
On 2’ George Lomax released Ben Hodkinson in behind who was brought down by Vics’ keeper’ Taberner and a Penalty was awarded. Hodkinson duly sent the glove-man the wrong way powerfully, sending the ball into the top corner.
Vics’ were extremely unlucky not to have a free-hit of their own on 14, when Rob Dorans’ exocet from 15 yards struck Phil Doran’s arms which were extended when the ball made contact. Ref Matt Scholes waved away the vociferous appeals.
The next twenty minutes were punctuated by scrappy football due to the wind and bumpy pitch, with Widnes skipper Mike Burke lucky to only see yellow for an atrocious studs-up tackle on Joe Camozzi on 35’. The resulting free-kick was arced into the box by John Connolly which found the head of Billy Whittle who saw his header finger-tipped over by ex-Vics’ keeper’ Mottram.
Widnes’ attacks were few and far between as Vics’ looked to get the equaliser.

HALF-TIME - Widnes 1-0 Vics’.

Vics’ made early inroads in the second half’s opening. Dom Craig saw his rising shot from twenty-plus yards tipped round the post by Mottram on 52’.
The equaliser arrived just two minutes later when Rob Doran outmuscled his name-sake Phil; turning on a six-pence around nine yards out and firing right-footed into the far bottom corner of the net. Widnes responded with a low-struck effort by George Lomax forcing Taberner to save low down by the base of his near post on 62’.
On 65’ a huge chance for Vics’ to take the lead was missed, Rob Doran was sent clean through by a great pass from Connolly and facing the white of Mottram’s eyes but could only shoot straight at him from 10 yards out.
The game then took another scrappy turn in the last quarter; save for a Kev Towey volley that Taberner had covered on 82’, and Vics’ sub’ Stu McDonalds’ grass-cutter shot from distance whistled past the post with Mottram likely to get there in any case on 87’.
The two teams will replay the game this Wednesday at Wincham Park.

Vics’ MOM - Kirtis Monson. Another accomplished performance by the diminutive left-back. Defensively sound and a threat going forward with his touch-line raids.

Vics’ boss Steve Wilkes’ post-match verdict -

“I think both teams will think they had chances to win the game at the first time of asking. The game never really got going as a spectacle due to a very hard pitch, and it’s all to play for on Wednesday back at Witton, and it should be another entertaining game.”

Report & interview by Jamie Dewsbury.

Up next for Vics’ is the home Replay Vs Widnes FC on Wednesday 15th August with kick-off at 7.45pm at Wincham Park, followed by a Home League match vs Winsford United on Saturday 18th August at 3.00pm.