Michael Ellison 'over the moon' as Widnes clinch West Division title

Needing a single point from their final game of the season, the Black-and-Whites went one better by defeating Trafford 1-0 - the all-important goal coming from Harry McGee midway through the second half.

In front of a club-record 882 attendance, the league leaders stood firm in the final quarter to earn a remarkable 17th clean sheet of the season in the league and cement their status as a Step 3 club from next season.

Speaking post-match, boss Ellison said: "It feels good. We made hard work of it, but it wouldn't be us if we didn't!

"We got over the line, and I'm delighted that we did our job. For the last three or four games, the lads have been really at it and we've had an outstanding season.

"I said to them, 'this doesn't happen often, and we've got to enjoy it'. What that group of players have done is special.

"Two seasons ago, we got a winner on the last day to stay in the division, and today we've won the league. It shows how far we've come as a club, and I'm delighted.

"When you get a group of lads who buy into what you're trying to do and stick together, they can do anything. I'm over the moon, I really am."

A final-day showdown with top-half Trafford had the potential to be a banana skin for Widnes, whose wait to seal the NPL West Division title had been prolonged in recent weeks after a run of four games without a win.

Nevertheless, on Easter Monday they came from a goal down to defeat Vauxhall Motors 3-1 and leave themselves on the brink of promotion to the league above.

But in a hotly-contested first half at the DCBL Stadium, Trafford who had the better opportunities as Rio Clegg - the division's top scorer with 20 goals - twice went close to breaking the deadlock.

A change in shape and personnel came at half-time, with McGee introduced to the action.

And it was he who came up with the all-important winning goal on 68 minutes, finishing smartly after Widnes' top scorer James Steele had seen his initial effort blocked.

On the decision to switch things up ahead of the second half, Ellison said: "We went with a 3-5-2 and knew it was going to be a different game, but I got that wrong and it's down to me.

"We weren't at it and they were the better side [in the first half], moving the ball better than us and rotating really well.

"This surface suits them. They've got a lot of good technical players and should've been at least one goal up. We rode our luck a little bit.

"This side, in the second half, did what they've done all season - reacted. We sat down at half-time and changed a couple of things.

"I knew Harry would have an impact. He's a big moment player and he's come with a massive moment to get us over the line.

"In the second half I thought we were outstanding, and we could've had one or two more. I told the lads that clean sheets will win us this league.

"This group have just been outstanding."