A valiant second-half performance was enough for Widnes to earn a point at home to City of Liverpool on Monday night, as the two sides played out a 0-0 draw.

City of Liverpool controlled the majority of a frustrating first half for Widnes, who were dealt a blow late in the first half as George Lomax was sent off for appearing to kick out at Barry Moore.

Despite their one-man disadvantage, Widnes were the better side in the second half and were unlucky not come away with all three points as Kev Towey hit the woodwork twice whilst Karl Ledsham couldn’t poke a goalmouth scramble home.

Manager Joey Dunn made four changes to the side that recorded a fine 4-1 win away at Charnock Richard on Saturday.

Adam Weston, Kev Pollard and Ross McDowell all dropped to the bench as Mike Burke, Jack Graham and Kev Towey all returned to the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Joe Fielding was unavailable for selection and was replaced by Steve Akrigg, who was rested in Saturday’s cup-tie.

The early exchanges were even and well contested. John Connolly was given far too much time to fire over for the visitors, before Widnes defender Akrigg forced a decent save out of Bartosz Kowalczyk with a close-range header.

City of Liverpool controlled possession for large portions of the first half, but were poor in the final third as they failed to really test the Widnes back four and goalkeeper Richie Mottram.

Michael Roberts volleyed over for Simon Burton’s Purples after Widnes could only half-clear a corner, before Daley Woods fired wide on the half-volley shortly thereafter.

The biggest talking point of the first half came seconds before the break as Widnes were reduced to 10-men.

George Lomax attempted to play the ball with an outstretched foot that caught the ankle of Barry Moore. However, the referee deemed Lomax to have kicked out at Moore and gave the Widnes man his marching orders.

Halftime: Widnes 0-0 City of Liverpool

City of Liverpool had a penalty shout turned down in the opening minute of the half as Aaron Rey tangled with Tom Mitchell in the area. The referee thought about it, but waved away the protests.

Both keepers were then forced into comfortable saves. Chris Lester went on a mazy run before firing straight into the gloves of Mottram, before Kowalczyk was again relatively untroubled by an Akrigg header.

Regardless of being down to 10-men, Widnes dictated play without the ball and spurned a good chance to take the lead on the stroke of the hour-mark.

Jack Graham did well to engineer space for a dangerous cross that Kev Towey couldn’t divert goalwards.

Widnes went even closer five minutes later and were denied by the woodwork. Mitchell’s throw-in allowed Towey to brilliantly turn away from his man before smashing a wicked volley against the bar that would have beaten the outstretched Kowalczyk had it been on target.

The Purples failed to make their one-man advantage count and were largely wasteful in the final third, untroubling the solid Widnes back-four whilst ‘keeper Mottram was never really worked to make a save.

Widnes were on top and pushing to take the lead. The visitors struggled to deal with substitute Kev Pollard’s header towards the back-post leading to a goalmouth scramble before ‘keeper Kowalczyk eventually smothered the loose ball as Ledsham was poised to pounce.

Minutes later, the woodwork again came to the rescue of City of Liverpool as Widnes were denied by the post. Graham did well down the flank with his cutback finding Towey, whose powerful drive towards goal struck the foot of the post before running wide.

City of Liverpool’s best chance of the half came through substitute Tom Peterson late on, with his shot whistling across the face of goal and wide.

Fulltime: Widnes 0-0 City of Liverpool

Widnes’ unbeaten run now stretches to nine games in all competitions, with Joey Dunn’s side last tasting defeat in late October.

These two sides will meet again early in the new year, as the two clubs contest the semi-final of the Reusch First Division Cup over two legs.

Next up for Widnes is a home game against Atherton LR on Saturday. That game kicks off at 3pm.