In a game of limited clear cut chances, Clitheroe got back on the winning trail in front of another large Shawbridge crowd after the disappointment of the Brighouse game.

Widnes belied their lowly position, although a draw against form team Ramsbottom at the weekend should have given a clue that this was a side in a false position. After a shaky debut, Kai Calderbank-Park was keen to show what he could do, and he was called upon to save well with his legs after 10 minutes. Clitheroe then lost Craig Carney through injury and a hurried change of personnel and shape was called for. This was exploited by the visitors who seemed to be slicing through the Blues at will for a period, with Finlay Armstrong clearing off the line at one point. Against the run of play, Jake Connelly hared down the left with only minutes of the half to play. He was unceremoniously hacked down towards the left of the box, and it was no great surprise when Connor Gaul bent the ball into the net, much to the relief of the Clitheroe supporters who made up all of the crowd bar a handful.

The second half saw a more fluent Clitheroe performance. On 47 minutes, the Widnes keeper was forced to make a finger tip save, before three minutes later Danny Gray sprang the offside trap and with a clear but angled view of the goal, he smashed a shot agonisingly across its face On 60 minutes, the otherwise faultless Craig Stanley made an uncharacteristic error and Calderbank-Park was forced to make a solid save. Owen Watkinson was still running himself into the ground in the Clitheroe cause, but as the clock ticked down, Widnes threw caution to the wind, but could not breach the resolute Clitheroe defence. This was not a glamorous performance, but one which showed battling qualities, which will stand the team in good stead as important games come thick and fast as they chase one of the play off slots on offer.

Team : Kai Calderbank-Park, Danny Gray, Finlay Armstrong, Craig Stanley, Markell Foulds, Charlie Russell (c), Terry Cummins (Oliver Muir), Craig Carney (Mitch George), Owen Watkinson, Jake Connelly (Jacob Gregory), Conor Gaul. Subs - Mitch George, Jacob Gregory, Oliver Muir. Not used - Tom Stead, Ollie Stirzaker.