Clitheroe were in sensational form for much of the game, but were made to sweat as Widnes staged a minor comeback in the last 10 minutes and pulled a goal back, before the home side secured a fully deserved three points.

From the off, Clitheroe were irresistible. Zack Clarke in the second striker role behind Sefton Gonzales was visible throughout and it was Clarke who opened the scoring on seven minutes as he pushed the ball past the defender, rounded him on the opposite side, cut inside and drove the ball home.

From this point, chances came almost every minute. Jack Burrows overlapping on the right and playing his best game for the club, dipped a fierce shot over the bar. One minute later, Gonzales volleyed a corner from the edge of the box and forced an outstanding save. On 12 minutes, Ben McKenna crossed from the left and saw a series of headers come to nothing.

One minute later, another Burrows cross was met on the full by Gonzales as he headed into the keeper’s midriff. On 16 minutes, Gonzales bamboozled the defence and his final well struck shot was blocked by a defender who literally was looking the other way. On 18 minutes, McKenna burst forward and his sublime pass to Clarke was ballooned over, whilst on 21 minutes Gonzales twisted and turned before forcing an astonishing save from the keeper.

From the resultant corner, the ball landed in a forest of players and Harrison Burke popped up to drive it home. Widnes had their first attack on 27 minutes, but the striker drove the ball across Chris Thompson’s goal. On 33 minutes, Jake Connelly ran 50 yards and laid the ball to McKenna whose instant shot at pace was brilliantly save by the keeper. Other half chances came but it stayed 2-0 at the break.

Chances in the second half were more limited but Clitheroe were heavily in the ascendancy. On 70 minutes McKenna forced a great save, before almost scoring from an outrageous flick with the outside of his boot one minute later. The next minute, Danny Wilkins, on as a substitute forced a superb save from a shot struck at full pace.

And yet, on 77 minutes Thompson saved smartly from a good volley from a bouncing through ball in Widnes’ first chance for half the game. On 84 minutes as the visitors rolled the dice, Cole Lonsdale brought down an attacker and the resultant penalty was converted. There were no more surprises in store and Clitheroe took the three points in front of a crowd of almost 600.

Team : Chris Thompson, Jack Burrows, Cole Lonsdale, Gary Stopforth, Harrison Burke, Billy Priestley, Ben McKenna, Richie Baker (Danny Wilkins), Sefton Gonzales (c), Zack Clarke (Alex Turner), Jake Connelly (Rhys Long). Subs - Danny Wilkins, Rhys Long, Alex Turner. Not used - Louis Almond, Louis Jeanne.