Blackpool power gives Widnes the league title
AFC BLACKPOOL .........................1 WIDNES FC ...................................5
WIDNES FC were crowned champions of the Hallmark Security League First Division following a 5-1 win at AFC Blackpool.
Widnes went into the game knowing that they only needed a point to guarantee promotion but the Whites needed a win, and Charnock Richard to drop points away at City of Liverpool, to clinch the title.
On an unseasonably, bitterly cold night on the Fylde coast, Widnes settled any nerves as they took an 11th minute lead. George Lomax netted the first goal of the evening with a well-taken strike from inside the area after Chad Whyte bravely won a header to set up his team-mate.
It was one-way traffic and Widnes were firmly in the ascendancy. Jay Roberts drove an effort narrowly over the bar before Dunn’s side doubled their advantage on the 20-minute mark.
River Humphreys’ long throwin caused Charnock significant problems on Saturday and was equally effective this time around, with skipper Kev Pollard directing a header into the back of the net to record his seventh goal of the season.
Widnes didn’t have to wait long to add a third. Lomax used his pace to collect a loose ball over the top and burst into space before coolly slotting beyond Kirkland 10 minutes before the break.
The striker completed his hattrick two minutes before halftime. Kev Towey released Lomax who netted a similar goal to his second. He was this time denied by a good Kirkland block, before rolling the rebound into an empty net. Lomax’s third of the evening was his 10th goal in his last six games.
Widnes were perhaps guilty of playing within themselves in the second half as the pace of the game significantly dropped but Dunn’s side continued to look threatening going forward.
Kirkland was called into action again to prevent Widnes from increasing their lead but the woodwork denied Widnes a goal of the season contender 10 minutes from time as Jack Graham’s first-time effort bounced back off the crossbar.
Widnes eventually added a fifth and it came out of the top drawer. Sam Sheen hit a tremendous cross-field pass to Towey, who curled a delicious ball into the area towards substitute Chris Lomax, who applied a neat finish ● that nestled in the back of the net.
Blackpool grabbed a consolation late on as Aaron Fleming’s long-range free-kick slipped beneath the body of Owen Wheeler.
After the full-time whistle sounded, celebrations began once news filtered through of the 1-1 draw between City of Liverpool and Charnock Richard.
The victory at the Mechanics Ground means that Widnes secured the title with a game to spare. Dunn’s side end the season at the Select Security Stadium on Saturday against Daisy Hill, with the Championship presentation taking place immediately following the full-time whistle.