BARNTON blew away their hosts on Saturday, scoring twice inside the first eight minutes.

The Villagers enter Christmas four points behind North West Counties League Division One leaders Cheadle as a result.

They took control from the outset at the weekend, taking the lead when in-form front man Kevin Towey finished smartly after racing on to captain Kevin Pollard’s pass.

And he turned scorer himself shortly afterwards, slotting in from close range following a scramble sparked by Ryan Malone’s corner.

Widnes toiled to trouble debutant goalkeeper Richie Mottram, recruited from Runcorn Linnets, in the first half’s remaining minutes.

Their best opportunity arrived in the seconds before the interval following a counter-attack, only for recovering full-back Adam Garner to time a tackle perfectly to avert the danger.

Barnton made safe maximum points from their first raid after the break.

Jason McShane released Towey, and his clipped cross to the back post was perfectly-placed for Ryan Malone to jump higher than his marker to score a third goal.

McShane, Malone and Towey all spurned chances to increase Barnton’s lead before Malone’s thunderous effort crashed against the crossbar following fine approach play by Towey.

Widnes netted a reply on 77 minutes, when attacker Luke Edwards steered a shot past Mottram after finding space on the right.

They applied pressure in the closing stages, during which Matthew Rigby escaped serious sanction for fouling former Barnton man Tony Wynne after he burst onto a long ball from goalkeeper Ben Morrow.

Barnton Mottram (GK), Garner, Rigby, Pollard, Meadowcroft, Burke, Towey, McShane, Laverty (Hayes), Anane (Graham), Malone. Subs not used Billington, Crellin-Myers, Stafford.

Attendance 70.