WIDNES, a contender to be promoted to the Northern Premier League, were too good for Northwich Victoria on Friday night.

The in-form hosts had all but assured an 18th maximum-points haul from their past 20 matches inside half an hour.

They needed only three minutes to break through when Ben Hodkinson drilled home an opening goal after running on to Phil Doran’s pass.

George Lomax made it 2-0 shortly afterwards, prodding a cross from player co-manager Kev Towey past goalkeeper Michael Donlon at the far post after the duo had combined in the build-up.

When Kev Pollard met Chris Lomax’s corner with a header at the far post on 27 minutes, Vics fell even further behind.

Steve Wilkes’ side then suffered a blow when they lost captain John Bennett to an injury, although they at least made former custodian Richie Mottram work when Oscar Durnin tried his luck.

However Widnes did not delay in increasing their lead six minutes after the interval when Chris Lomax squeezed a shot inside the near post after Towey had slipped a pass into his path.

Vics went closest midway through the second-half when Johnny Gorman prompted Mottram to push away his shot after the wide man had linked with Durnin.

Chris Lomax poked wide at the other end, while Towey was thwarted by Donlon and George Lomax glanced wide with a header from Towey’s cross.

Vics have now lost four of their past six North West Counties League fixtures, letting in 17 goals in the same sequence, and occupy 15th place in the Premier Division table.

Champions-elect Runcorn Linnets are their guests at Townfield Lane on Tuesday, kick-off 7.45pm.

Widnes | Mottram (GK) (Airey GK 90), Roberts, Doran, Pollard, Akrigg, Grogan, Towey, Graham (Jones 79), Hodkinson (Croughan 72), George Lomax, Chris Lomax Subs not used Burke, Banister Goals Hodkinson 3, George Lomax 14, Pollard 27, Chris Lomax 51

Vics | Donlon (GK), Shinks, Clarke, Bennett (Bickett 34), Kenny, Barski, Gorman (Matthews 72), Adam Weston, Durnin, Hassall, Whittington (Allen Weston 65) Sub not used Lawrence

Attendance 61