Eccleshall 0-5 Widnes

Widnes FC ended a run of three games without a win as they thrashed Eccleshall 5-0 at Pershall Park in the North West Counties Football League Division One.

Having lost their previous three games following a 2-1 win over Daisy Hill last month, Steve Hill and his side travelled to Staffordshire to take on an Eccleshall side one point behind Widnes in the table, sitting one place below Hill’s team having played three games less.

The Eagles, managed by Steve Lloyd who has recently announced his departure from the club come the end of the season, came into the game in a woeful run of form having won just two of their thirteen games in all competitions in 2016, including a run of nine games without a win. The two victories both came over bottom club Whitchurch Alport.

Manager Hill was faced with selection problems heading into the game, with eight first-team players missing through unavailability. Six changes were made from the midweek defeat at Litherland REMYCA as Grant Hartley, Jamie Casson, Daniel Wilson, Tom Hackett, Jamil Campbell-Joseph and Luke Edwards made way for Ben Morrow, Jordan Wright, Braian Strutz-Rivelli, James Ryan, Ronnie McCarthy and Anthony Wynne respectively.

The game was a scrappy affair throughout decided by incisive finishing from a Widnes side who have had little trouble scoring goals this season, having scored 53 goals in the league this season following the conclusion of this fixture, which is the fifth highest in the division.

Widnes were awarded a ‘soft’ penalty on the 34-minute mark which was duly converted by Ronnie McCarthy, who was making his return from a 6-game absence which included a 4-match ban following his second sending off of the season in the 2-1 defeat against Hanley Town in January.

The lead was increased to 2-0 two minutes before halftime as a piece of poor goalkeeping allowed Widnes skipper Tom Mitchell to pounce and score his first goal of the season.

Halftime: Eccleshall 0-2 Widnes

Widnes were in a comfortable position at the break, and increased their lead further 10 minutes into the second period as McCarthy doubled his account on the day in spectacular fashion as he curled a 25-yard free-kick over the wall and into the top corner, recording his seventh goal of the season in the process.

Widnes were the slightly better of the two sides in a scrappy affair that was decided by incisive finishing from the visitors. Tunde Owolabi made it four on the 66-minute mark as found himself one-on-one with the keeper before deftly chipping the ball into the back of the net.

Eccleshall looked the more likely to score in the closing stages but Widnes added a fifth against the run of play with five minutes remaining. Paul Carney continued his impressive goalscoring record against the Staffordshire outfit, netting for the third consecutive game against the Eagles, increasing his tally in this fixture to four in three games.

Fulltime: Eccleshall 0-5 Widnes

This emphatic win will give Widnes a confidence boost as they turn onto the home straight of the season. With seven games remaining, Widnes face five fixtures against teams in the bottom half of the table, including a reverse fixture with Eccleshall on the final day of the league season at the Select Security Stadium.

Next time out, Widnes travel north to the Brian Boys West View Stadium to take on Bacup Borough. Widnes were victorious in the fixture, running out 5-2 winners in their first game of 2016.

Widnes: Morrow, McGrogan, Mitchell, Wright, Strutz-Rivelli, Lomax, Ryan, McCarthy, Owolabi, Wynne, Carney.

Subs not used: Amor, Boyle.