A tough and uncompromising encounter ended with honours even, as the Ro stretched their unbeaten run to ten games in all competitions despite not being at their best against a strong Widnes outfit.
Manager Alex Frost brought Kane Wallwork, Deane Smalley, Jack Morrow, Jake Cottrell and Kyle Hawley back into the starting line up after they had been rested in midweek, with Bebeto Gomes also stepping up from the bench in midfield.
The visitors had the better of the early stages, and went in front when striker Jake McGowan side footed home a cross from the right at the far post to give them the lead.
However, the Ro were level within four minutes, when Matty Crothers sent in a free kick from the left, and Widnes midfielder Steve Irwin headed it past his own keeper to level things up.
Widnes continued to have the upper hand, and after James Dwyer had made an excellent tackle to deny Sean Miller a goal scoring chance, the midfielder was inches away from restoring his side’s lead when his deflected effort rattled the crossbar.
Grant Shenton then made an excellent save to ensure that McGowan did not score his second of the afternoon, and it took until the second half for the home side to come close to edging in front.
Geffry Ebhote hooked the ball back across the six yard box after a Cottrell corner from the right, and Gomes header was cleared off the line before Liam Ellis’ follow up effort was also blocked.
At the other end Dwyer was again in the right place to clear a goalbound effort from James Steele with Shenton out of his goal, and the Steele was then inches away from grabbing a winner right at the death, when his header from a corner flew just over the bar.
So a point apiece for the two sides, but ultimately the visitors will feel that they were unlucky not to secure all three on the balance of play.
