Widnes get the better of Warrington in friendly

WIDNES got the better of Warrington in the first ever meeting between the towns’ respective senior football clubs.

The hosts made the most of home advantage on the artificial surface at the Select Security Stadium, and led 2-0 at half-time against a lacklustre Town.

Warrington did make a game of it in the second half, pulling a goal back through Lewis Codling, as they continued their pre-season preparations ahead of the Evo-Stik Premier League campaign which begins on August 13.

Widnes, who play in North West Counties First Division, have recruited well ahead of the new campaign and will certainly be a match for anyone at their level.

Pacey striker Darryl Mason caused Warrington’s defenders from three leagues above their opponents problems throughout the first half.

They had already exposed some weakness in the Town back line through Kev Towey even before Mason was hauled down by Joe Coombs in the box for a fifth minute penalty.

Towey stepped up and drilled the spotkick past Karl Wills to give the hosts an early lead.

It was a lead they looked worthy of for most of the opening quarter, and they made it two on 17 minutes.

Warrington had just started to gain some foothold in the match, partly down to some tricky work by winger Sean Clancy on the left, but after a corner was cleared, Widnes hit on the counter attack.

A quick goal kick found its way to the left and Mason got in behind down the channel and then finished smartly left-footed across Wills.

Mason very nearly made it 3-0 on 24 minutes when he weaved his way through the defence and then looked to place the ball in the bottom corner, only for it to come back off the inside of the post.

The 4G surface, a source of controversy in Super League, claimed a victim when Liam Turner was forced off with a hamstring strain on the half hour mark.

His withdrawal at least prompted an attacking change for Town, with the introduction of Codling providing some extra guile in midfield.

Codling had the best chance of the first half for Town when he blazed wide from a good opportunity, with the only other real chance of note coming when Michael Grogan’s awkward header was cleared off the line from a corner.

A handful of changes were made by Warrington at half-time, and in the second half they were the better team.

The ball was in the net within four minutes of the restart, Scott Harries’ shot pushed out by the goalkeeper only as far as fellow substitute Ben Deegan, only for the big striker to be ruled offside.

Codling and Harries were linking up well and the former set up a chance for James Dean, who saw his shot well saved by Richie Mottram.

A goal was coming and it duly arrived shortly before the hour mark when Jack Walne’s run down the right freed Harries to tee up Codling, who screwed his shot across the ‘keeper and in.

The momentum was with the visitors and Harries should have done better when he took on Deegan’s lay-off, deciding to attempt to place his shot when perhaps a stronger effort was warranted.

Codling then forced another good save from Mottram and it looked like only a matter of time before the scores were even.

On 64 minutes, Dean rattled the crossbar with a superb effort from 25-yards and Widnes breathed a sigh of relief.

Widnes then started to make inroads at the other end, substitute Tunde Owolabi showing Ryan Winder a clean set of heels on the right touch line and forcing a decent save from Wills, while James McShane probably should have finished the match as a contest when he found himself one-on-one with Wills, only to tamely shoot to the keeper’s left.

As time ticked by, the introduction of Gerard Kinsella attempted to inspire an equaliser for Town, but it ultimately wasn’t to be.

With Warrington Wolves having claimed a hat-trick of wins against Widnes in Super League this season, it wasn’t to be a fourth victory of the year against their local neighbours.

Warrington Town: Wills, Turner, Nicholas, Ventre, O’Donnell, Coombs, Winder, Grogan, Dean, Gillespie, Clancy. Subs: Harries, Codling, Rudge, Deegan, Walne, Speed, Bromlow, Kinsella.