The Whites were indebted to a Tom Scott penalty save to deny Cummins an opener after six minutes, but the striker would eventually put Widnes to the sword with four clinical finishes as Marine kept the pressure up on league-leaders Workington.

Ben Hodkinson grabbed a late consolation for Widnes who remain fourth from bottom ahead of a series of important fixtures against the teams around them.

Hodkinson and James Murray were amongst three changes to the side that beat Leek Town on penalties in the Integro Cup in midweek. The duo were both on the scoresheet at Harrison Park and came in for Rhain Hellawell and Anointed Chukwu who dropped to the bench, while Fisnik Hajdari was preferred to Eoin Ashton.

Neil Young’s Mariners, unbeaten in their previous 11 league games, made a positive start and were awarded a 6th minute penalty.

Mike Grogan felled Cummins in the area from a Josh Solomon-Davies cutback, but the former Curzon Ashton man couldn’t capitalise as his spot-kick was beaten away by the right glove of Scott – his third penalty save in two games after his shootout heroics at Leek.

George Hassall would then nod over as the visitors shaded the early exchanges, but Widnes would then enjoy a decent spell.

They could, and probably should have taken the lead midway through the first half. Former Marine man Murray found himself in behind only to see an initial effort saved by the face of keeper Germano Mendes. The ball sat up nicely for Murray to attempt a lobbed rebound, but Mendes recovered to claw the shot away in as it looked to be dipping in.

Murray had a spring in his step and again threatened moments later, shooting wide after good work from Hodkinson in the build-up.

But Marine maintained a threat and they soon took the lead, although the opener was of Widnes’ own doing. Steve Irwin pressed Mike Burke high and pinched the ball away from the hosts’ skipper. He drove to the byline and put it on a plate for Cummins to apply a tidy finish.

It should have been 2-0 moments later. Widnes’ defence was creaking badly and Grogan skewed a clearance against teammate Sam Adetiloye that sent the ball careering towards his own goal, but the defender cleared the ball off the line.

The sides shared chances late in the half, and while Irwin stung the gloves of Scott from distance, Murray hit a half-volley over as Widnes looked for a response.

Widnes suffered a blow very early in the second half when Grogan limped off injured with substitute Sam Sheen slotting in at centre-half, but Marine soon doubled their advantage in dubious circumstances.

Cummins held off the challenge of Sheen to race in behind and finish ruthlessly beyond Scott, only for the linesman on the near side to flag for a foul.

Referee Alexander Kelly hadn’t blown his whistle and overruled his assistant after a lengthy consultation to give the goal, leaving Widnes players incensed and Towey cutting a particularly animated figure in the home dugout.

In truth, the manner of the second goal took the sails out of Widnes and from that point on, there only looked like being one winner.

Murray continued to be Widnes’ main focal point as he forced a save from Mendes on the hour as Akrigg and Towey introduced Chukwu from the bench in an attempt to force their way back into the contest.

Hodkinson would head straight at Mendes moments before Cummins completed his hat-trick on the 65-minute mark.

The Marine skipper headed straight at Scott from Hassall’s cross, but James Barrigan kept the chance alive and teed up Cummins to turn home from inside the six-yard area to make it 3-0.

It was four 13 minutes later. A loose Sheen pass allowed Irwin to dispossess Hajdari and the Mariners ruthlessly punished Widnes, with Cummins rounding off a fine day in front of goal as he buried James Joyce’s cross from close range with his fourth of the afternoon.

Widnes, to their credit, kept working and mustered a consolation four minutes from time. Jay Roberts’ deep cross was helped back in by James Steele, with Hodkinson arriving to poke home ahead of Mendes to register his ninth goal of the season.