Niall Battersby redemption earns crucial win: Widnes 2-1 Bootle
Widnes maintained their six-point lead at the top of the Northern Premier League West after their 2-1 win over Bootle.
Widnes manager Michael Ellison was clear as he saluted the Whites directors box with a clenched fist after their hard-earned 2-1 win over Bootle.
Mick McGraa was left to ponder with his players beginning their warm down.
An 80th-minute Niall Battersby’s header proved to be the difference to keep Widnes in the driving seat for promotion.
The Bootle boss would have felt it was going to be another long afternoon as they conceded inside five minutes for the second time in as many weeks.
This time around, it was a defensive mistake that gifted the hosts the lead. Sean Williams’ loose touch allowed for Jack McGowan to burst through and fire into the bottom corner, against his former club.
Bootle did offer resistance and began to grow into the game after falling behind. However, it was Widnes who continued to push for the next goal.
Ellison’s frustration was painted across his face as he went to his bench to dissect the near-misses.
McGowan’s header went marginally wide before no white shirt was on hand to covert Sean Miller’s cross as it bounced across the Dave of goal. James Steele then hit the post in anger after heading over from six yards after Bootle failed to deal with the long-throw.
The hosts manager was soon up in arms shortly after when Battersby was adjudged to have fouled Connor Harwood on the stroke of half-time.
Harwood’s superb touch allowed him to get ahead of the defender and as he closed in on the near post went down under the challenge of the Widnes defender. The referee was in a good position to see the incident and wasted no time pointing to the spot.
Ben Hodkinson stepped up and despite Mark Halstead guessing the right way, his left-footed effort nestled in the back of the net to level proceedings.
The second half was fiercely contested but lacked any quality or inspiration.
Bootle did look the brighter of the two sides but their chances of victory were made tougher when Jack Lenehan was sent off for a second bookable offence, five minutes after the restart.
Half chances fell to the visitors, Hodkinson arrowed a half-volley wide of the mark while Harwood’s effort from inside the 18-yard box was easy for Halstead, after a superb first touch.
Widnes made a triple attacking change in the dying embers which saw Tom Peterson, Renato Gomes and Kingsley Williams enter the fray.
Shortly after, they were back in front. Battersby lost his marker to glance home from Matty Rain’s corner.
There were opportunities for Bootle to salvage a draw, Williams drilled a free-kick on the edge of the box into the wall before Tom Hannigan’s header was scrambled away.
It was an important win for Widnes who maintained their six-point lead at the top of the table. But for Bootle, they are left to pick the bones out of a difficult performance.
Here are the takeaways from Widnes 2-1 Bootle.