Chad Whyte found the net early in both halves to put give Widnes a comfortable and commanding 2-0 lead.
Richard Whyatt pulled a goal back for the visitors 11 minutes from time to set up a tense finish but Widnes held on for a vital three points.

With a number of fixtures to come in quick succession, five changes were made to the Widnes side that won away at Holker Old Boys last time out. Jack Graham and Steve Akrigg were both rested as Chris Lomax and Luke J Edwards both returned to the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Jay Roberts, Kev Towey and Billy Webb all dropped to the bench and were replaced by Danny Hand, George Lomax and eventual match-winner Whyte.

It was the visitors who recorded the game’s first shot on target, but Whyatt’s effort on goal lacked enough pace to trouble Widnes shot-stopper Owen Wheeler.

Moments later, Widnes took the lead on the seven minute mark. Edwards spotted Chris Lomax down the left and released the winger with a well-weighted pass. Lomax’s cross was fumbled in the 6-yard area by Cheadle ‘keeper Jonathan McIlwaine, allowing Chad Whyte to nod home his second goal for the club from close-range.

Minutes later, Liam Tongue fired a shot wide of the target for the visitors after patient build-up play failed to penetrate a stubborn Widnes defence.

Cheadle spurned a decent chance to equalise as the first half approached its midway point. Chris Sherrington won possession back before linking up with Whyatt, who couldn’t quite get a shot away under pressure from River Humphreys. The loose ball fell to Luke Hincks who could only high and wide of the target.

Luke J Edwards then curled a free-kick over the top for Widnes after Whyte was fouled just outside the area.

Widnes then came close to adding a spectacular second. The hosts launched a counter-attack with George Lomax playing a one-two with Whyte before firing a 30-yard volley on goal that had McIlwaine beaten only to cannon against the post and roll away from danger.

The game had an ebb and flow about it with both sides creating forays deep into the opposition’s half but offering little when it truly mattered in front of goal.

Widnes wasted a good chance to increase their lead on the stroke of half-time. Danny Hand and Alex Davies combined down the right with the latter bursting forward into space. His cross evaded Whyte but made its way to Chris Lomax at the back-post, who could only skew his shot wide of the post.

Halftime: Widnes 1-0 Cheadle Town

Widnes only had to wait four minutes to double their lead.

George Lomax had time down the right to deliver a delicious cross into the area that found Chad Whyte, who provided a lovely cushioned finish to guide the ball beyond the outstretched McIlwaine.

It was the striker’s third goal in just his second Widnes start.

Whyte could have bagged his hat-trick on the hour-mark but was perhaps caught out by the lively and sun-soaked artificial playing surface at the Select Security Stadium. Davies won possession back and picked out the striker in the area, who couldn’t quite get a shot away as the ball ran away from him after a decent first-touch.

Widnes began to apply pressure in pursuit of a third goal. Chris Lomax drove a shot over before brother George latched on to Edwards’ through-ball only to lift his shot over the bar with ‘keeper McIlwaine stranded.

A rare chance fell to the visitors midway through the half as a Sherrington corner fell to Matthew Todd at the back-post, but ‘keeper Wheeler was alert and threw himself at the feet of Todd to make a smart stop.

Widnes suffered a blow shortly after as Alex Davies limped off injured. He was replaced by Jay Roberts who impressed off the bench at the Select Security Stadium.

Whyte had another chance to bag his hat-trick but this time, he was denied by ‘keeper McIlwaine who got down quickly to deny the Widnes striker after good work by George Lomax.

Cheadle woke up in the last 20 minutes and grew into the game. They mustered an equaliser 11 minutes from time.

Chris Sherrington picked out Richard Whyatt in the area with a well-placed cross, allowing his teammate to guide the cross home with a well-taken header to set up an interesting, but tense finale.

Cheadle thought that they’d found an equaliser less than two minutes later. Widnes failed to close down a cross into the area that was turned home at the back-post by Whyatt. However, Whyatt was adjudged to have handled the ball into the back of the net after a magnificent spot from the linesman on the far side. The striker was then booked for his troubles.

Despite late pressure from the visitors, Widnes saw the game out and picked up the all-important three points.

Fulltime: Widnes 2-1 Cheadle Town

It certainly wasn’t pretty, but Widnes got the job done and did what was needed at this stage of the season – pick up all three points.

Widnes now head into a busy week buoyed by the fact that they already have three points under the belt with four fixtures in eight days ahead of them.

The Whites ‘host’ Prestwich Heys at Barnton’s Hinchcliffe Holmes Stadium on Monday night before travelling to Bacup Borough and AFC Blackpool on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.

They then round-off the week by returning to the Select Security Stadium where Joey Dunn’s side host Ashton Town on Monday 3rd April.