A delighted Kev Towey lauded his side's excellent performance as Widnes ended Runcorn Linnets' 13 month long unbeaten home league record with a 2-0 Derby win at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.

Towey struck a superb first half free-kick before co-manager Steve Akrigg added a second four minutes later with Widnes closing the gap on their near neighbours to seven points at the summit of the Hallmark Security League Premier Division.

Speaking after the game, Towey cut a very satisfied figure as Widnes extended their unbeaten league run to 13 games.

"I'm really pleased. Defensively, I thought that we were excellent. It was probably the best we've been defensively all season," Towey said.

"It's easy to give the forwards credit but I thought that our defensive performance underpinned everything we did.

"They hadn't been beat at home all season, but I said to the lads that we had been to Charnock Richard and Runcorn Town earlier in the season and won.

"We had to make sure that we came here and did ourselves justice. As long as we worked hard, there's not a lot more that you can ask for, but we did more than that today."

Towey continued to praise his side defensively, with the unit spearheaded by the central defensive partnership of Akrigg and ex-Linnet Mike Burke at the heart of the Widnes backline.

"You know what you're going to get from Ste," Towey added.

"He still isn't match fit, but he's won everything in the air today.

"Freddie Potter is a really good, strong player. He is as good a player as you're going to come up against in this division but they both kept him quiet, which they deserve credit for."

With Widnes tasting defeat for the first time in three months in midweek at Marine, Towey praised his side for bouncing back at the earliest opportunity.

He said: "Tuesday didn't knock us. We had limited availability going against us but we didn't get the result we wanted.

"It could have hampered us but we've dusted ourselves down, come here and got the three points."

Considered a legend at the Millbank after two successful spells with Linnets, Towey marked his return to his old stomping ground with a goal and three points.

The now Widnes joint boss admitted that he had mixed emotions throughout the day both on and off the pitch.

"It's mixed emotions for me personally," Towey said.

"It was hard for me to come here emotionally today because of my links to this club but it's Widnes who I do the business for at the moment.

"It was nice to score and get the three points. I just had to focus on myself and do my own job."