On an autumnal Saturday afternoon Leek Town took on mid-table Widnes FC for a Pitching In NPL West league match at the DCBL Stadium. The Blues knew this would be a tough away game for them with the Cheshire side not conceding a goal for six matches and making a sound start under new manager Dave Dempsey.

Last Saturday, the Blues played extremely well against Market Drayton Town in the Buildbase FA Trophy coming away with an impressive 7-0 win. It was an excellent away performance, and Blues manager Neil Baker was clearly looking to get another positive away result this time in the league. Baker was able to pick from an almost full Leek Town squad for the trip up to Cheshire with only defender Scott Wara still injured.

The game proved to be a great advertisement for the NPL with both teams giving 100%. A crowd of 156 at the DCBL stadium, saw a bold Leek Town side attack the home team from the start, get an early goal thanks to Danny Trickett-Smith, then have a hatful of great chances in the first period. In a more even second half Widnes defended doggedly then equalised with a wildly deflected free kick before Leek pressed forward to win the match with a late goal from Tim Grice.

In a first half dominated by the Blues, it was forward Danny Trickett-Smith who benefited from great build up play from Reeves and Saxon and scored on the 15th minute with a well taken shot from the middle of the Widnes goal, his sixth league goal of the season. Almost immediately Leek should have doubled their lead when skipper Grocott passed to Grice who shaved the cross bar with a glancing header. Soon after it was Saxon who once again beat the Widnes offside trap but shot straight at the home goalkeeper Owen Wheeler. In the final minutes of the period, Leek forwards Trickett-Smith and Grice had good-chances saved by keeper Wheeler, somehow despite the dominance of the Blues the score stayed the same.

HT Widnes 0 - Leek Town 1

In the second period, Leek started well and put heavy pressure on the h0me side with both Grice and Trickett-Smith getting through the home defence and having great chances to get that crucial second goal. Then as the period progressed Widnes’ winger Adetiloye began repeatedly attacking the right side of the Blues defence. Widnes now gained a foothold in the Leek half for the first time in the match. The Cheshire side had a couple of great chances to equalise, the first was saved well by Blues’ keeper Danny Roberts and then what seemed a Widnes goal was ruled out by referee Croft for a clear offside. It was now that Leek Town manager Neil Baker made a substitution bringing on Stevenson for Saxon in an attempt to change the pattern of play. However, it was Widnes who came back into the match when a free kick was awarded in a central position, in form John McGrath stepped up and struck the ball only for it to hit the wall causing a complete change of direction with Roberts unable to scramble across quick enough, Widnes had drawn level on 72 minutes.

From the restart Leek began to press the home side immediately with full backs Bavanganga and Short pushing forward. Then on 80 minutes the key goal came, Stevenson picked the ball up on the left wing and advanced to the byeline cutting back in trying to create space for a shot, he turned the defenders this way and that and when eventually tackled the ball fell to Grice in a central position whose shot squirmed through a crowded goal mouth to register a goal. There was a brief appeal from the Widnes players for offside but the referee was not interested.

In the final moments either side had half chances, but the score stayed the same. Another away win away for the Blues against a well organised and dogged Widnes side.

FT Widnes FC 1 - Leek Town 2

REPORT BY LUKE REYNOLDS

After an absence of over 12 months Leek Town will now return to Harrison Park to play Kendal Town in the Northern Premier League West game on 23rd October 3 pm

Leek Town line up as follows

1. Roberts
2. Bavanganga
3. Short
4. Grocott (c)
5. Harrison
6. Ryder
7. Wakefield replaced by Dyer
8. Reeves
9. Grice
10. Trickett-Smith replaced by Bell (88)
11. Saxon replaced by Stevenson (67)

Substitutes : Booth, Baker Dyer (unused)
Attendance : 156

Tickets for our next game are available here