The only way is Towey as Widnes bag key win

Holker Old Boys 0

Widnes FC 1 TEN-MAN Widnes FC bounced back from last week’s heartbreaking cup exits with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Holker Old Boys on Tuesday night.

Kev Towey’s 34th goal of the season was the difference as Joey Dunn’s side lifted themselves back into the playoff positions.

Billy Webb was shown a red card just before the break, but Widnes held on for a big three points.

The game was far from being a classic, as both sides struggled to create chances on a heavy surface up in Cumbria.

Jack Graham sent a dangerous delivery into the area early on with Webb unable to find an elusive touch on the cross to guide the ball home.

Widnes took the lead as the first half approached its halfway mark. Towey received the ball from Graham before magnificently turning away from his man and firing a daisy-cutter inside of the near-post to give his side a 19th minute lead.

Widnes were comfortably in control and were rarely troubled by their opponents. They were dealt a blow on the stroke of half-time as they were reduced to 10-men.

Billy Webb reacted angrily to a robust Gareth Smith challenge.

He raised his hands to the head of Smith, and was promptly shown his marching orders by the referee.

Holker controlled possession in the second half but rarely troubled Widnes’s backline well marshalled by Mike Burke and Steve Akrigg.

Six minutes of stoppage time gave Holker an opportunity to nick a point, but Widnes held firm to move into fifth place in the table.