Widnes moved out of the bottom four after comfortably dispatching City of Liverpool.
A quickfire second-half double after the restart from Will Jones and a Jack Hont own-goal sealed the points for the Whites after Connor McCarthy opened the scoring after 12 minutes.
Michael Ellison got one over his former employers after suffering a 4-0 defeat to the Purps in their last encounter. Five months on, the turnaround at the DCBL Stadium continues as they moved out of the relegation zone for the first time since the second game of the season.
The hosts were looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat away to Trafford and they started on the front foot. It didn’t take them long to take the lead as McCarthy scored his fifth goal of the season.
Against his former club, the forward burst down the left-hand side and arrowed his effort into the far corner leaving Ben Barnes rooted to the spot.
Sean Miller had a golden opportunity to double Widnes‘ lead shortly after. His impeccable first-touch beat the City of Liverpool defender but he could only blaze over the bar from inside 12 yards.
McCarthy ghosted in behind the Purps defence and looked to lob the visiting goalkeeper but he didn’t get enough purchase on his effort.
Moments later, Paul McNally’s side had their best opportunity through James Steele. He peeled off his marker and met a delightful left-footed cross but failed to get the appropriate connection with his header to beat Cameron Terry.
The hosts went in front at the break with a one-goal cushion, but they soon doubled their lead moments after the restart. It was another familiar face as Jones lashed one home in off the underside of the bar against his old club.
It came after Miller raced beyond the City of Liverpool backline only to be denied by the woodwork after trying to squeeze it beyond Barnes at his near post.
And just six minutes later, the game was put beyond all reasonable doubt. Hont inadvertently put the ball in the back of his own net after Miller was denied after heading Matty Rain’s cross against the post.
Both sides threatened their respective defences with Nelson Digbeu unleashing a fierce first-time volley over the bar for Widnes.
The Purps offered some resistance through Jack Hazlehurst and Danny Mitchley with the playmaker curling wide before the former Skelmersdale United forward forced an acrobatic diving save from Terry.
Widnes return to winning ways and move out of the drop zone as a result. They will remain outside of the bottom four should results go in their favour on Saturday.
Defeat for City of Liverpool keeps them in 14th, six points clear of the relegation battle and 11 points off the playoff pack.
Match Stats:
Widnes 3-0 City of Liverpool
Goals: 12′ Connor McCarthy, 46′ Will Jones, 52′ Jack Hont (own-goal).
HT/FT Score: 1-0/3-0
