as the hosts defeated Eccleshall 5-0, to put some distance between themselves and the foot of the table, whilst re-asserting the club in the playoff conversation.
These two sides last met in mid-November, a game that saw Widnes run out comfortable 6-0 winners. However, this was a different Eccleshall outfit. Manager Shaun Hollinshead has since departed allowing Liam James to take over the reins. James has since guided the Staffordshire club to six points in twelve games, which had his side sitting just two points behind Steve Hill’s side, whose recent poor form has dragged them towards the bottom of the table.
The game saw players such as leading goal scorer Ben Tollitt, Jamil Campbell-Joseph and Bradley Williams return to the Widnes line-up. Despite this, missing defensive players meant that winger Danny Burns would fill in at left-back.
It was an energetic start to the game, with few chances being attempted by either side. However, large periods of possession for Widnes set the tone for the remainder of the game. Eccleshall had to rely on the counter-attack, which was shown early as Angelo Errico tested David Nevitt with a shot that the returning goalkeeper comfortably gathered.
The home side took the lead on the 15-minute mark. Jamil Campbell-Joseph picked the ball up on the half-way line before confidently dribbling away from the pursuing Eccleshall midfielders. This opened up space for an excellent pass that found Graham Molloy, who scored his second goal in two games with a tidy finish that beat Spencer Martin to his bottom corner.
Campbell-Joseph was also pivotal in the build-up to Widnes’ second goal of the game. The forward pulled off a terrific dummy that allowed him to deliver a cross towards Molloy, who was unmarked in the penalty area, as the striker hit a half-volley off the post to double Widnes’ lead and bag his sixth goal of the season.
The second goal seemed to wake Eccleshall up and breathe new life into the team. Allwyne Thompson hit a free-kick inches wide of the post before missing an absolute sitter moments later, as he put an Errico cross over the bar from close range.
Errico was proving to be the away side’s main attacking threat, as he was pulling the strings for the Eagles going forward. This was further reinforced as the winger received a pass from Daniel King, before firing a volley towards goal that was brilliantly saved by David Nevitt, as the keeper tipped the ball over the bar. It was a truly tremendous save from Nevitt that once again showed his importance to the team.
Eccleshall began the second half as an improved entity as they looked more confident on the ball in the early stages of the period, as good build-up play from the away side ended with Peter Williams knocking his long-range shot over the bar.
It wasn’t long before Widnes added their third. After Ben Tollitt won a free-kick 30 yards from goal, Bradley Williams stepped up and curled the set-piece beyond Martin and into the back of the net, as the midfielder scored his fifth goal of the season in sensational fashion.
Widnes didn’t relent with attacking pressure as they continued to knock on the door. The ball fell to Tollitt in the penalty area, who saw his shot saved brilliantly by Martin, who got down well to deny the effort on goal. Graham Molloy also had his chance at a hat-trick go begging, as Danny Lomax linked up well with Campbell-Joseph to deliver a cross that Molloy turned wide with a shot.
The hosts finally made it four shortly after the hour-mark. Molloy was again involved as he played an exquisite cross-field pass to Ben Tollitt with the outside of his boot. Tollitt picked up the ball, and proceeded to effortlessly go by four Eccleshall defenders before slotting his shot past Martin and into the bottom corner. Tollitt’s goal was his tenth of the season, continuing his impressive season.
Mark McLaughlin was then introduced for Widnes in favour of Danny Burns, as Steve Hill changed the system to 3-5-2. This didn’t mark a change in fortune for Widnes, as they continued to create a flurry of chances. Paul Carney was next to threaten, as he rolled a shot inches wide of the post.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, Widnes persistence going forward continued as the pushed for a fifth. However, a mistake from Tollitt nearly let Eccleshall in, as his mis-placed pass was picked up Peter Williams, who played the ball wide to James Gartside. Gartside missed the target as he dragged his shot wide in what was a disappointing effort on goal.
The hosts finally scored the fifth goal of the encounter five minutes from time. Bradley Williams did well down the left to drill a cross into the 6-yard area. The cross was tipped by keeper Martin into the path of Paul Carney, who must wish that he could play Eccleshall every week, as he rifled his close range shot home to record his third goal of the season; all of which have come against the Eagles.
There was still time remaining for Graham Molloy to try and bag his hat-trick. However, it wasn’t to be for the striker, as he saw his diving header deflected off the line by Paul Ridley, who didn’t know an awful lot about it.
With the game deep in second half stoppage time, keeper Nevitt pulled off a great save to deny Gartside at his near post to preserve his clean sheet; only the fourth time that Widnes have achieved this feat all season.
The win sees Widnes pick up the all-important three points, as Steve Hill’s side move up to 11th in the table, six points off a playoff spot with three games in hand on Atherton LR who occupy the final playoff spot.
Next time out, Widnes travel to MBS Stadium to take on league-leaders Cammell Laird, who have lost just once all season. It will be a very tough game for Steve Hill’s side, who are fully capable of an upset if they carry their momentum and confidence into the fixture. A win over the league’s top side would put the division on notice, laying down a statement of intent from Hill and his team.
Match Report by Callum Chadwick