Luke J Edwards' deft touch over Blackpool keeper Callum Kirkland increased the hosts' advantage, before Michael Burke netted the best of the bunch, bursting forward from inside his own area, cutting inside and hammering home Widnes' sixth.

Jack Graham's second goal of the season completed the scoring 19 minutes from time.

Joey Dunn named an unchanged side from the side that beat Silsden 4-1 last time out. Club captain Kev Pollard was named amongst the substitutes after recovering from an Achilles injury.

It was the hosts that registered the first chance of the game. Edwards’ cross was helped on by Steve Akrigg, who found Towey lurking at the back-post but the striker could only turn the ball over on the stretch.

After a quiet opening period, Widnes came even closer to an opener on the 26-minute mark. Edwards was again involved, releasing Hand down the channel with a delightful one-touch pass. Edwards received the cut-back, only to rattle the bar from the edge of the area with a powerful effort.

Two minutes later, it was Widnes who broke the deadlock. Chris Lomax floated a free-kick into the area, with Steve Akrigg’s towering header allowing Billy Webb to nod home his second goal in as many games for Widnes from close-range.

Widnes didn’t stop there. River Humphreys played a superb cross-field pass towards Hand. The right-back’s tendency to get forward was causing Blackpool problems, as his cross was met by goalscorer Webb, but Blackpool ‘keeper Kirkland was on-hand to make a decent save.

Minutes later, Widnes added a second. Towey was instrumental in the build-up as his clever through-ball released Daniel Hand, who burst into the area before netting his first goal for the Club, firing his effort beneath Kirkland and into the back of the net.

With half-time approaching, Widnes’ attacking prowess was rewarded with a third goal. Defender Akrigg was allowed to carry the ball out of defence and pick out Webb with a superb delivery towards the back-post, who prodded in his second goal of the afternoon with an outstretched boot.

Halftime: Widnes 3-0 AFC Blackpool

Widnes started the second half as they ended the first. Blackpool had ‘keeper Kirkland to thank, as he got down well to make a smart stop from Burke, who was left unmarked to meet Chris Lomax’s corner with a powerful header.

Dunn’s side were in complete control and they tacked on a fourth shortly afterwards. It came in fortuitous fashion as Lomax saw an effort charged down but the ball sat up nicely for leading goalscorer Towey, who took a touch before seeing his half-volley nestle in the back of the net.

The visitors had little time to regroup from yet another setback as Widnes added a fifth when Graham’s drilled effort towards goal was pushed away by Kirkland, but only into the path of Edwards, who delicately lifted the ball over the stranded ‘keeper and into the net with a delightful finish.

Both sides made substitutions following the fifth goal – with captain Pollard making his return for Widnes – but it proved to be little more than a brief respite as Widnes made it six as the second half approached its midway point.

Mike Burke netted the pick of the goals as the central defender carried the ball 40 yards from inside his own half into the penalty area, he played a neat one-two with Towey before cutting inside, and finding the far corner with a venomous drive. It was quite the way for Burke to net his first goal for the Club.

Widnes were denied a seventh by the post. Graham split the Blackpool defence with a well-weighted ball through to Webb, who cleverly rounded the ‘keeper but was denied a well-deserved hat-trick by the frame of the goal.

The hosts didn’t have long to wait for a seventh, and it came 19 minutes from time. It was patient build-up play from Widnes, with Towey eventually engineering space for a cross that was blocked, but the loose ball fell to Jack Graham, who opened up space for a shot that arrowed into the far corner, completing the scoring for Joey Dunn’s side.

There was still time for Webb to once again be denied a hat-trick. This time ‘keeper Kirkland made a solid save to deny the striker, who fired a shot on goal after good build-up play from Graham.

Fulltime: Widnes 7-0 AFC Blackpool

The win, Widnes' biggest in the Hallmark Security League, stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions, moving Dunn’s side to within five points of the playoffs with three games in-hand on sixth placed Sandbach United.

Next up for Widnes is a Liverpool Senior Cup quarter-final tie with Southport on Monday night.