REPORT: Ashton Athletic 0-2 Widnes

Jack Banister and Kev Towey both netted second half goals to send Widnes through to the semi-finals of the Macron Cup with a 2-0 win at Ashton Athletic.

The game finely poised at 0-0 with 22 minutes remaining, it was Banister who found the breakthrough with a well-taken finish before Towey converted a spot-kick to set up a two-legged date with Winsford United in the last four.

Co-managers Towey and Steve Akrigg made three changes to the side that beat AFC Darwen nine days earlier. With Ben Hodkinson and Sean Myler nursing knocks, neither were risked with George Lomax and Jack Graham earning recalls, while Dylan Sweeney started at left-back in place of Phil Doran who was named amongst the substitutes.

Widnes started well and should have been ahead within the opening four minutes. Banister did well to drive into the area and provide a cutback that was cleverly dummied by Lomax, falling at the feet of the unmarked Michael Grogan who skewed his shot wide from close-range.

Towey then twisted and turned on the edge of the area, eventually engineering space for a shot that he drove into the grateful gloves of Ashton goalkeeper Martin Pearson.

Richie Mottram was called into action for the first time on the 15-minute mark, and it proved to be a vital contribution. Two ex-Widnes players combined as Bram Johnstone floated a deep cross into the area, met by a powerful Ben Cartwright header but Mottram produced a terrific reaction save to claw the ball away.

Grogan again went close for Widnes minutes later, arrowing a shot wide but clear sights of goal were proving at a premium for both sides.

Dale Korie-Butler, another former Widnes player, was proving to be handful going forward for Ashton. The striker went on a marauding run forward only to run into the challenge of Akrigg but the ball broke fortuitously back to the Ashton man, who forced a solid save out of Mottram.

Half-time: Ashton Athletic 0-0 Widnes

With it all to play for in the second half, joint bosses Towey and Akrigg would have known that an improvement was needed. A scramble ensued in the area following an early Widnes corner, with the loose ball breaking to Towey who wildly fired wide.

Ashton then threatened, with Daniel Regan getting the wrong side of Sweeney before delivering a teasing cross into the area but Matthew Reid’s effort was poor and easily gathered by Mottram.

Widnes were patient in waiting for a clear-cut opportunity. In the end, it was Akrigg’s long-ball forward provided it, releasing Lomax in behind. The striker did well to hold off the challenge of Callum Wilson but he could only shoot straight at Pearson.

The visitors would not be denied for much longer. Banister combined with Towey before surging into the area, ignoring substitute Chris Lomax in acres of space at the back-post only to fire over.

Banister went one better moments later, providing the game’s opening goal. It was a well worked Widnes attack as substitute Lomax played a neat one-two with Towey before feeding Grogan who kept the ball alive with a sliding challenge. Banister found himself in space, and steered an effort into the top corner.

Widnes had stepped up a gear, soon adding a second that killed off any hopes of an Ashton response.

Joint boss Towey was clumsily caught in the area by Wilson, leaving referee Connor Brown with no choice but to point to the spot. Towey dusted himself down, and confidently dispatched his spot-kick, netting his 20th goal of the season.

Full-time: Ashton Athletic 0-2 Widnes

Widnes had to dig deep, but it was a rewarding victory that secured the visitors’ safe passage through to the last four of the Hallmark Security League’s League Cup.

Akrigg and Towey’s side are back at Brocstedes Park on Easter Monday to go head-to-head with Ashton in the league, but Widnes first face a trip to Barnoldswick Town on Saturday.