REPORT | Widnes 5-0 1874 Northwich

Sean Miller scored a hat-trick as Widnes thrashed 1874 Northwich 5-0 at the DCBL Stadium.

Miller’s treble, including two penalties, and further goals from substitutes Jack McGowan and Josh High moved the Whites to within four points of a play-off place in the Northern Premier League West.

Manager Michael Ellison made three changes to the side that had beaten Mossley last time out.

Miller earned a recall with Olly Wright and Sam Bhatti out through illness, while George Hassall dropped to the bench.

Niall Battersby and Louis Isherwood came back into the side, with the latter starting in an unfamiliar central midfield position.

Opponents 1874 started the day propping up the NPL West, seven points from safety with 15 games to play.

Widnes found themselves in an almost-identical plight this time last season, ultimately avoiding relegation on the final day.

Boss Ellison would have been all too aware of the threat of a side desperate for points, and the visitors made a decent start.

Damian Crossley’s team probed into attacking areas and won a dangerous free-kick less than two minutes into the contest, but captain Matt Woolley could only shoot over.

Widnes responded when Isherwood had a well-hit drive beaten away by Matthew Wonnacott, but Northwich fired a warning back after 19 minutes.

Matty Rain was caught the wrong side of Salford City loanee Kamoy McNair, who strode in behind after collecting a long ball over the top of the Widnes backline.

McNair was probably guilty of taking half a second too long to get his shot away, which was brilliantly blocked by the on-rushing Cameron Terry.

That was as close as 1874 would come.

The Whites gained and never relinquished control of the game from that point onwards and were awarded a penalty after 26 minutes.

A Miller corner was headed as far as Ste Milne who was brought down by the perhaps overzealous challenge of Jonny Sodhi in the area, leaving referee George Eaton with little choice but to point to the spot.

And Miller promptly fired into the roof of the net from 12 yards to give his side the lead.

The visitors, to their credit, hung around long enough to add enough jeopardy where the game’s second goal would prove to be crucial, particularly after 1874 survived a Widnes onslaught following the second half restart.

Substitute Hassall, on for the injured Brendan O’Brien, sliced over from close range while Miller had a half-volley saved by Wonnacott.
McGowan, he himself on at the break for the injured Will Jones, then curled an effort inches wide from the edge of the D.

Northwich launched a few forays into the Widnes area but failed to trouble the backline and keeper Terry, and their mound became a mountain when that all-important second goal went the way of the Whites.

Milne took full advantage of some statuesque defending when he lifted a deft lob over the 1874 defensive line where Miller ghosted in to score with a flicked header.

It was 3-0 after 72 minutes when Miller completed his hat-trick with his second penalty of the afternoon after Sodhi was penalised for handball.

1874 then spurned their best chance when Jack Marrow latched on to a defence-splitting pass but Terry was again out quickly to thwart the opportunity at the feet of the Greens player.

McGowan would make it 4-0 shortly thereafter, turning home from a James Steele cutback to mark his return from injury with a goal.
The fifth goal arrived nine minutes from time.

Will Bell headed into the back of the net from a free-kick only to be adjudged to have fouled his marker, but within 17 seconds, Widnes scored one that counted.

Chris McCann was played into trouble by Kacper Mialkowski and was promptly hounded by the press of McGowan.

The ball broke to Hassall, who in turn played in McGowan to square for High to finish into an empty net to complete a rousing rout for Widnes, who have now scored nine goals without reply in their last two games.