George Lomax, Harry Brazel and co-manager Towey failed to find the net as Cables progressed through to the final, where they will face National League North outfit Southport.

The Whites followed up their cup exit with a narrow 2-1 defeat at Newcastle Town on Saturday with Towey admitting a heartbreaking defeat coupled with the long journey days later had taken its toll.

“I do factor in that mentally, not physically, for a youngish group, last Tuesday against Prescot was a little bit of a punch in the stomach,” he said.

“However, I do think we’ll be stronger for it but still we’ve got to dust ourselves down and the boys have got to learn quickly from that.”

Towey also admitted he had no complaints with the defeat to Town that left Widnes 12th in the table with six games remaining of the current campaign.

“We deserved to lose,” he added. “We didn’t apply ourselves to the standards we have been over the past five weeks.

“The lads have been working and the concentration levels had been excellent but on Saturday they weren’t at that level.

“We had two excellent chances to go in front and we’ve missed them both and then we’ve been undone.

“At this level people are going to get chances and they took theirs. As soon as you go behind to any team in this league you’re up against it.”