Lomax double that put Widnes on the brink

WIDNES FC took a giant step towards automatic promotion with their 2-1 win over Charnock Richard on Saturday.

The win – Widnes’ 12th consecutive in the league – left Joey Dunn’s side above their Lancashirebased counterparts and needing one point from their final two games to clinch promotion.

Manager Dunn made one change to the side that beat Chadderton last time out. Goalkeeper Richie Mottram was ruled out with a thigh injury and replaced in the starting line-up by Owen Wheeler, who has returned from his Dallas Cup success with Liverpool FC Foundation College.

The hosts took the lead on the 19-minute mark. River Humphreys’ long throw-in from the left was only half-cleared to George Lomax, who hit an unorthodox volley on the spin that nestled in the far corner to net his sixth goal in his last five games.

Widnes continued to show their attacking intent after taking the lead. Steve Akrigg forced Adam Halton into a comfortable save but Kev Pollard fired high and wide of the target after good build-up play by Towey.

However, the visitors recovered from their early blow and quickly equalised. Matthew Davison picked the ball up in midfield and was afforded too much time and space to surge forward before drilling a powerful shot into the bottom corner that left the outstretched Wheeler with no chance.

Charnock almost WIDNES............................. 2 CHARNOCK RICHARD... 1 gifted Widnes a second goal as Towey robbed Spencer Bibby of possession but stumbled under the right-back’s innocuous challenge as he moved towards goal.

Whatever Dunn said at half-time had an instant impact as Widnes regained the lead less than two minutes into the second half.

It was a wonderfullyworked Widnes goal as skipper Pollard won possession back in midfield before Edwards played a neat one-two with Towey and released Humphreys into space down the left. The Widnes defender saw a powerful effort charged down but the ball sat up nicely for Lomax, who applied a smart finish on the volley to send the home crowd into delirium.

Keeper Wheeler was called into action on the hour-mark as Anthony Hough played a tidy one-two with Grimshaw that set the Charnock man on his way but he could only shoot straight at the Widnes shotstopper, who made a comfortable save.

Five minutes of stoppage time gave Charnock the chance to find an equaliser but they struggled to penetrate the stubborn and hard-nosed defensive tandem of Mike Burke and Steve Akrigg, who dealt with everything thrown at them as Widnes held on to take a significant step towards achieving their season’s goal.