A brace from James Steele either side of half time and further goals from Olly Wright and Ste Milne ended a run of three straight defeats in all competitions.

Michael Ellison made two changes to the side beaten at Marine in midweek in the Liverpool Senior Cup.

The Whites boss had to pick from an injury-hit squad with Sean Miller, Jack Byrne, Kris Holt and Matt Van Wyk unavailable while Jack McGowan and Louis Isherwood were only fit enough to make the bench.

Cam Terry and Ste Irwin earned recalls with George Hassall making only his second league appearance of the season.

Mossley controlled possession in the early exchanges but failed to truly penetrate the Widnes defence and only had a flurry of unsuccessful corners to show for their efforts.

Widnes took the lead midway through the half when Irwin laid a free-kick off to Wright who found the top corner with a venomous drive from 30 yards – what a way to score your first goal for the club!

The visitors looked to respond quickly and Reece Webb-Foster did fashion a decent chance for himself, but goalkeeper Terry was out sharpish to thwart the danger at the Mossley man’s feet.

It was 2-0 on the stroke of half time.

Wright turned provider, floating a corner into the six-yard area where Steele peeled away from his man to head home his first of the afternoon.
Widnes never looked back and could have a third before the break, but Hassall snatched at his chance from a Steele cutback, shooting wide.

The Whites added a third just nine minutes into the second half.

Will Jones found himself occupying a wide position from an attacking throw-in and he expertly found half a yard to deliver a delicious cross into the area where Steele brilliantly found the far corner with another header from a tight angle – his 12th goal of the season.

Ellison’s team were in full control and were awarded a penalty after 65 minutes when Mossley’s Mark Lees was penalised for handball.

Skipper Irwin stepped up, but he didn’t get a true connection on his spot-kick and it was saved by Chris Thompson.

The penalty save didn’t quite stem the flow and Widnes soon extended their lead 15 minutes from time.

Milne superbly plucked Irwin’s through ball out of the air with an excellent first touch before driving into the area and curling a shot into the far corner – his first for the club.

Jones went close to tacking on a fifth shortly thereafter but it wasn’t to be and Widnes sailed through to record a confidence-boosting victory.