Ben Hodkinson netted twice as Widnes beat Droylsden 3-1 to pick up their first win of the BetVictor Northern Premier League Division One North/West season.

Hodkinson struck twice in five first half minutes before Josh Klein-Davies added a third late on to ease tensions at the Halton Stadium after Phillip Clarke halved the Whites’ advantage 13 minutes from time.

In truth, it could have and probably should have been more for Widnes but Droylsden will rue a sitter from Steve Howson at 2-1, hitting the bar from inside the six-yard area.

Widnes co-bosses Steve Akrigg and Kev Towey made one enforced change to the side beaten at Ramsbottom United on the opening day, with Danny Ventre coming in for Jay Roberts.

Both sides made positive starts. Conor Ready hit an effort wide for Widnes after good work by James Steele, while Danny Wilkins skewed a shot off target for the travelling Bloods.

Minutes later, Widnes carved another opening and took a ninth minute lead. Sam Sheen won possession back and quickly teed up Lewis Buckley to set Hodkinson on his way. The striker did the rest, driving past Diego Lattie and burying his effort beyond Chris Thompson.

Widnes stayed on the front foot with Steele forcing a comfortable save out of Thompson, but the Whites were awarded a penalty when Hodkinson cut inside of Lattie only to be wrestled down in the area for a definite spot-kick.

Hodkinson, who had missed his previous two penalties, confidently stepped up and found the back of the net to score his third goal in two games to begin the season.

It was all Widnes. Droylsden couldn’t cope with pace of Hodkinson and Steele on the flanks, and it was the latter who went close. The former Newcastle Town man pulled off an outrageous turn away from his man, but his shot was comfortably handled by Thompson.

Hodkinson was a matter of inches away from a hat-trick following the half-hour mark, with Shaun Holden’s powerful effort on goal narrowly evading the striker’s outstretched leg as the ball whistled just wide of the upright.

The in-form striker wasted a gilt-edged chance to net a first-half hat-trick on the stroke of half-time. Hodkinson did brilliantly in the build-up, turning inside of a Howson challenge, sitting Thompson down, but rushed his effort and skied over the bar.

Droylsden came out for the second half with a slight tactical change and renewed vigour, but it was Widnes who again went close. Steele evaded the offside trap with a well-timed run but he could only lift a lob over with only Thompson left to beat.

The Bloods were most limited to half-chances, but Dave Pace’s men grew into the contest following the hour-mark.

Aaron Burns would go close from a corner which fell kindly for the former Radcliffe striker, but Widnes keeper Owen Wheeler made a stunning reaction save before blocking the attempted follow-up.

A third Widnes goal would have proved crucial and ultimately killed the game as a contest as Hodkinson and Steele both threatened but couldn’t convert from decent openings.

Klein-Davies was brought on midway through the half for a previously cautioned Buckley, but another tactical adjustment from Droylsden – Rhys Clooney for Stephen Rigby – forced Widnes to adopt a slightly more defensive stance.

Wilkins would have an effort blocked by Quansah but Droylsden would reduce the arrears from the resulting corner, with Clarke finding the far corner with a fine glancing header that left Wheeler with no chance.

That goal set up a tense finish and Droylsden would somehow waste an opportunity to equalise four minutes from time. Wheeler failed to deal with a deep free-kick and the ball sat up nicely for Howson in the area, but the ex-Salford City defender could only hook a shot against the crossbar from all of two yards.

But Widnes would break and finally seal all three points less than a minute later. Steele would release Klein-Davies and he calmly applied a ruthless finish to net his first goal since a summer move from Prescot Cables.

The Whites kept the ball well in the Droylsden half inside stoppage time, and the full-time whistle went moments later with Widnes up and running.