Widnes manager Dave Dempsey was delighted with the win but admitted the result could’ve went “either way.”
Michael Burke’s first-half header and Lloyd Dean’s striker’s finish early in the second half was enough to see off relegation-threatened Prescot Cables.
It was a fiercely-contested derby between the two sides with either team having former players in both squads.
The hosts defended sternly and constantly posed a threat on the break but were forced to withstand late pressure from Cables after a late goal from the visitors.
But for the Widnes boss, he felt Kevin Lynch’s side were the better of the two despite leaving the DCBL Stadium empty-handed.
He told Off The Park: “[It was] Cagey. More probably from our side, they’ve been the better side in my opinion over 90 minutes but we’ve took our chances. We had to dig in deep, kept the banks in terms of shape well.
“Midfielders have won their battles, it’s just been one of those days we’ve managed to come away with three points when it could’ve went either way.
“It’s come from two set-pieces, we’ve not had much joy off them this season. Burkey’s header – a great header on the back stick.
“Then Ste Rigby’s done really well, pinched the ball in the second phase, I’m made up for Lloyd [Dean], made up to get a goal especially against Prescot, he give the club so much time and to be fair he never got any stick, but it always nice to score against your own team. I thought he did really well today, Lloyd.
MATCH REPORT: Widnes FC 2-1 Prescot Cables: Lloyd Dean comes back to haunt Prescot Cables
“I said to them in the changies, we’re nine points adrift of that dreaded third play-off spot and the goal difference is about 25 so basically 10 points.
“Let’s just relax a bit for the last 10 games, we can hopefully play for a bit more composure, keep the intensity right. There’s always been pressure on us since we came to the club, constant pressure, every games a must-win, every dropped point you feel it, every win you’re that bit closer.
“But that win is massive in terms of setting us up for the season, it allows us to play with a bit more freedom.
“We pride ourselves on that structure at the back, the midfielders working hard. Today, the defensive element come from the front line, I think Lloyd’s causing problems it wasn’t coming back necessarily easy.
“We had to work for the ball to get into positions so we had time to readjust and get our positions right which we didn’t do Tuesday, we made it far too easy for City of Liverpool.
“Defensively we were good, that stems right through the team – what a goal by the way from Prescot, it’s a great finish.”
[Featured image: 617 Photography]
