Clitheroe 0 Widnes 1
Attendance 804
Clitheroe came into the game on the back of a fine away win at Nantwich two days earlier, but in front of an 800+ crowd, they failed to fire on any cylinders against a solid, hard working Widnes side, and will need to dust themselves down quickly before the weekend’s FA Cup game against NPL Premier Hyde United.

With keeper Hakan Burton sidelined with a shoulder injury, Clitheroe moved swiftly to secure the services of Runcorn’s keeper from the previous season, Danny Taberner. In a poor match, chances were at a premium, and little of interest happened until Widnes took the lead on 28 minutes when from a corner, the ball was not cleared, and as it bobbled to the bye line, Taberner made to gather the ball but found the ball steered across goal for a simple tap in. As the half time break approached, Jacob Hanson, Clitheroe’s stand out player, had a chance to beat the keeper one on one, but was foiled, before Reece Webb-Foster minutes later fashioned a chance for Sefton Gonzales, who was thwarted by a Widnes defender. As the clock ticked down, the Blues were almost given a mountain to climb as a speculative shot bounced off the bar from 30 yards, but luck was on their side.

Clitheroe came out stronger in the second half but not with the swagger we have come to expect from the Blues. On 77 minutes, John McGrath had the key chance for the home side, but his 25-yard drive was tipped away by ex Blue Cameron Terry, who was in excellent form. As the clock ticked down, Lee Pugh was shown a second yellow card for exchanging words with a linesman, which summed up a thoroughly miserable day for Clitheroe.

Team: Taberner, Hanson, Bell, Henderson, Lancaster, Pugh, McGrath, Wilkins, Gonzales, Rouse, Webb-Foster
Subs (used) Dent, Holden. Parny
Sub (not used) Sephton