Towey - 'We All Did Need a Rest'

Taken from Widnes Weekly News

Kev Towey says Widnes' 11-day break from competitive action came at the right time for his players.

The Whites defeated Market Drayton Town 2-0 on New Year's Day thanks to second half goals from Dale Korie-Butler and Ben Hodkinson.

They return to Evo-Stik League West duties against Colwyn Bay this Saturday afternoon.

Towey and co-manager Steve Akrigg's men are currently 11th in the table and eight points from the playoff places.

When asked about the rest period, Towey replied: "It's come at the right time.

"We've got a couple of lads, like Danny Ventre, who have been struggling. He dug in against Market Drayton.

"He wasn't fit enough to start and probably wasn't fit enough for the bench but he was very professional and helped the team out (being named as a substitute) and now has had a good rest.

"Mike Grogan is due to come back and that gave him another 11 days and then you've got Conor Ready who's been missing for two or three months now. We're not far off seeing him.

"Mike Burke was back on the bench against Market Drayton after an eight to 10-week absence.

"So there's some important players to come back at a time in the season when it's make or break now."

Towey also revealed Widnes have been forced into a change of shape due to their backlog of injuries.

The Whites lost their final two games of 2018 but bounced back in Shropshire as they look to compete for a spot in the play-offs during the second half of the campaign.

"It was a battling performance against Market Drayton," Towey added.

"We were under the cosh a little bit due to personnel unavailable with the New Year period so we've had to adjust the formation. The lads have taken a little bit of adjusting to it and in the first 20 minutes, half-an-hour that showed but they found their feet and were fantastic in the second-half and won the game."