JOHN Connolly’s goal in extra-time sent Northwich Victoria through to the next round of the FA Cup on Wednesday at the expense of higher-ranked opponents.

He stayed calm after controlling Joel Brownhill’s lofted pass before finishing clinically past goalkeeper Richie Mottram to break the deadlock in a close contest’s 98th minute.

Widnes could not recover, and Vics will travel to Burscough – a rival in the North West Counties League’s Premier Division – later this month.

“We just about edged it over the two games,” said manager Steve Wilkes.

“I’m really proud of my players, and the scenes after the final whistle showed how much it means to everybody associated with the club.”

Widnes opened the scoring inside five minutes during the teams’ first meeting on Saturday, and began brightly again.

They went close to a repeat when Ben Hodkinson’s header from Bram Johnstone’s cross flashed over.

At the other end, Connolly’s effort direct from a free-kick was narrowly off-target.

Vics improved in the second-half, and Rob Doran’s header from Kirtis Monson’s cross prompted Mottram to save.

Goalkeeper Danny Taberner produced the game’s best intervention when he stretched to divert Hodkinson’s drive to safety with his fingertips.

The visitors to Wincham Park wore anguished looks when substitute Chris Lomax’s low effort was deflected wide by Kieron Kenny on 95 minutes.

They had further reason to frown when Connolly found the net moments later.

He almost repeated the trick when Dom Craig picked him out, but this time Mottram’s block thwarted the midfielder.

Wilkes added: “I don’t think we played particularly well in the first-half, and a few words were said to the players during the interval.

“We tweaked things slightly, and from the second-half onwards got better.”

Vics | Taberner (GK), Camozzi, Barski, Kenny, Monson, Cooke, Whittle, Craig (Shinks 129), Connolly (McDonald 108), Doran (Matthews 113), Brownhill (Gorman 118) Subs not used Bickett, Ayres, Neild (GK) Goal Connolly 98

Widnes | Mottram (GK), Graham, Johnstone, Pollard (Sheen 99), Cartwright, Burke, George Lomax, Grogan, Hodkinson (Croughan 105), Ventre (Chris Lomax 63), Korie-Butler (Towey 77) Subs not used Akrigg, Webster, Jones

Attendance 132

Additional reporting by Jamie Dewsbury