REPORT: Charnock Richard 1-4 Widnes

Widnes FC moved joint top of the Hallmark Security League Premier Division with a 4-1 win at 10-man Charnock Richard, an eighth consecutive win in all competitions.

Skipper Kev Pollard put Widnes ahead inside of the opening minute before Charnock were forced to play for 80 minutes with 10-men as Mark Woods was dismissed for a poor challenge on Jack Graham.

After the break, Widnes turned on the style with three further goals. In-form duo Ben Hodkinson and Kev Towey added goals before the hour-mark with Sam Sheen tacking on a fourth 13 minutes from time for a team that seems to keep getting better.

Carl Grimshaw’s late consolation was the only blemish on a near-flawless performance from Steve Akrigg and Towey’s men.

The duo made four changes to the side that comfortably dispatched Winsford United last time out. Richie Mottram returned from illness to start in goal, while Pollard came in for River Humphreys.

Elsewhere, Danny Laverty and Sam Henry both dropped to the bench with Towey and Sean Myler earning recalls.

Comfortably beaten at home by Charnock just four weeks earlier, Widnes were eager to make amends and made a flying start.

Jack Banister floated a corner towards the near-post, met by Pollard who hit an unorthodox effort into the roof of the net with the outside of his boot to put Widnes a goal to the good.

Widnes got out of jail two minutes later as Charnock hit the bar. Ashley Young directed a free header from a corner against the body of Mottram before nodding the rebound against the woodwork, with Widnes sweeping away the resulting danger to their relief.

The game’s talking points came on the 10-minute mark as Charnock were reduced to 10-men. Graham was on the receiving end of studs-raised challenge from the hosts’ Woods, catching the Widnes man at the top of his ankle. The linesman on the near side was well placed with Woods being given his marching orders.

Widnes looked to take full advantage as Banister was enjoying himself up against Joe Noblet on the left, breezing past his man but his cross was played slightly behind Hodkinson who could only turn over.

Banister again went close for Widnes, latching on to a Myler pass before cutting inside and firing over.
He then combined with Hodkinson, finding the former Bootle man with a well-weighted cross but he could only head into the grateful gloves of Jordan Gidley.

It was a relatively quiet first half for Mottram, but he had to be alert inside first half stoppage time. Grimshaw directed a glancing header towards goal at the near-post, but Mottram pulled off a world class diving save to preserve Widnes’ lead heading in at half-time.

Halftime: Charnock Richard 0-1 Widnes

Widnes were much livelier after the break, rewarded with a second goal six minutes into the half. The visitors turned defence into attack quickly as Myler lifted a ball over the top of the Charnock defence, releasing Hodkinson into space who applied a composed finish to give Widnes a commanding lead.

In control, Widnes added a third on the hour-mark to kill the game as a contest. Phil Doran combined with substitute Chris Lomax who surged into the area. He had the time and space to pick out Towey in the area, who netted from close-range, bagging his 50th goal for the club.

Widnes were cruising, denied a fourth by the woodwork as Hodkinson flicked a near-post header against the frame of the goal.

Akrigg and Towey’s men rubbed salt in Charnock’s wounds 13 minutes from time, adding a fourth. It was a goal of the highest quality as substitute Sam Henry was played in behind, squaring his cross towards the six-yard area with Sam Sheen sliding in to poke home his fifth goal of the season.

Grimshaw pulled a goal back with virtually the last kick of the game, but this was Widnes’ day and an eighth straight win.

Fulltime: Charnock Richard 1-4 Widnes

Widnes’ festive period gets underway on Saturday as Akrigg and Towey’s side visit Congleton Town before travelling to AFC Darwen on Boxing Day.