To torpedo Linnets
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Widnes had an early sight of goal in the second half, with Towey unable to get on the end of Sean Myler’s cross from the right.
At the other end, Kris Holt drew a decent save from Mottram with a goalbound header.
Clear-cut chances would remain at a premium for Widnes as Linnets took control, going in search of an equaliser.
Defender Danny O’Brien’s free-kick evaded everyone in the area, with Jack Graham having to react quickly to clear his lines from close to his own goalline with multiple Linnets players lurking.
Linnets then had their best sight of goal on the hour-mark. Antony Hickey raced on to a Shanley through-ball before rounding Mottram, but with the goal at his mercy, co-manager Akrigg got back well to clear the ball of the line, clattering an upright for his troubles.
Widnes could only half-clear the resulting corner, which was floated back into the area where Potter managed to find space to rattle a post with a powerful effort.
Potter was proving to be Linnets’ dangerman, and Runcorn had Widnes under the cosh as the striker twice forced Mottram into action, with the second being a terrific diving save down to his left.
In an effort to shake things up, Runcorn boss Ellison made his first change of the night, Hickey being replaced by Stuart Wellstead.
Runcorn eventually found a breakthrough and it was a wonderfully-crafted goal from the visitors.
Adam Jones released Shanley down the left, who in turn picked out Potter with a magnificent cross, arriving on time to turn the ball home from close-range.
With Linnets piling on the pressure, Widnes were holding on for at least a point. Potter nodded narrowly wide while Akrigg again cleared off the line, this time preventing substitute Kyle Hamid from poking home.
Michael Simpson then drove into the penalty area only to find the side netting with his power- ● ful effort.
Widnes had barely been out of their own half, but one late foray deep in Linnets territory produced what would crucially be the match-winner.
Cook wonderfully glided past three Linnets defenders with quick feet before going down under the challenge of Kieran Nolan. Referee Michael Barlow waved away the protests, only to be left with no choice but to award a penalty moments later, as Hodkinson was felled by a Moore sliding challenge.
Buoyed by a fine individual run of form, Hodkinson stepped up himself and dispatched the penalty despite Holmes getting a hand to it.
Hodkinson and his jubilant Widnes teammates celebrated with first-team coaches Paul Jones and Andy Burgess in the technical area – but the job was not done yet.
Linnets launched the proverbial kitchen sink at Widnes in the final seconds of the contest, with the hosts surviving a massive penalty shout when Shanley appeared to be bundled over by Akrigg inside the box but this time nothing was given.
And seconds later, Widnes were able to celebrate an El Clasitoll double.