The victory makes it eleven straight wins in the league for the ‘red-and-blacks’ and will put them in great heart for Saturday’s return visit when the pair meet in the final Pool game of the League Cup.

This was not an easy victory for the Wids – far from it – they were pushed all the way by an uncompromising and difficult to beat Oldham outfit who are again showing the kind of form that saw them lose only two games last term, and likely to be the team to beat again this season.

The weather for the game was grey and overcast with a strong and difficult freezing cold wind blowing at an awkward angle across the pitch. That said, it didn’t seem to affect Oldham that much, and they had much the better of the early exchanges.

Indeed, the home side should really have scored after just ten minutes but a lack of composure close to the line cost them the early lead.
After that near miss, the Wids then earned themselves a penalty, from where they were able to cut loose in style allowing Jamie Patient to get onto the outside of the home defence and race 50 metres for an outstanding try which Andy Owens was able to convert.

The Wids were now slowly getting into their stride, and it wasn’t long before a blind side run from Josh Kenyon saw the scrum half release wing man Antony Leadbetter who chipped ahead to perfection before collecting and diving over in the corner to record their second try of the afternoon.

But, back came Oldham, and after being held up over the line, they were finally able to open their account as Jamie Dalloway converted a penalty to make it 3 – 12.

Shortly afterwards, Widnes attacked again, and a deft chip in behind the Oldham defence from Liam Lawton laid the platform for Antony Leadbetter to create the overlap which allowed fullback Andy Owens to cross for his sides third try of the afternoon.

The same player then added the extras to make the score 3 – 19.

In the run up to the interval, Oldham then laid siege to the Widnes line and only some outstanding defence kept their line intact.

The final minute of the half then saw the ‘red-and-blacks’ break free of their defensive shackles, and with the last kick of the half, Andy Owens converted an excellent long range penalty to make the score 3 – 22 at half time.

With the elements now in their favour, and a big deficit to claw back, Oldham needed a big effort at the start of the second period, and that was exactly what they got as Chris Roddy crashed over for a try in the corner after just 90 seconds.

The score visibly lifted the home side, and the visitors were forced into defensive mode on more than one occasion as they battled to keep their line intact and blunt Oldham’s new found enthusiasm.

Tempers then flared near the touchline which earned both Captains a stern telling off from the official, before an Oldham player was then sent to the sin-bin just a few minutes later.

With tempers continuing to threaten to boil over once again, the visitors were quickest to get their minds back on the game and centre Liam Lawton was able to cross for that all important bonus point try.

Andy Owens then added the difficult conversion to restore and even slightly extend the Wids earlier advantage on the scoreboard.

After that, it was then the Wids turn to lose a man into the sin-bin, and the home side took full advantage to score a try from a diagonal kick to the corner which was then goaled in style from close to the touch line and make it game on again at 15 – 29.

With the result of the game still in the balance, Widnes were then put under some intense pressure from the home side who sensed they could still rescue something from this game.

In a frantic last few minutes, Will Patient made a determined break up the centre of the field which could have produced more, and there were a couple of blockbusting efforts in the scrum from the Wids pack when it was really needed.

But, in the end, they had to settle for just a further, vital penalty from Andy Owens, before Kevin Leadbetter was able to boot the ball out on the full and finally put an end to Oldham’s hopes.

Afterwards, a delighted Head coach Andy McIntosh said “They were a real handful today but we were ready for a big game after several under par performances. Credit to the lads to continue to pull out the stops and keep our run going. Oldham again next week same time same place - we will be ready again”.