Widnes 0-1 Clitheroe - ISUZU FA TROPHY First Qualifying Round

Clitheroe were good value for their win in the FA Trophy and can now look forward to an away trip to Brighouse Town. Clitheroe totally dominated the first half but had to absorb a period of intense Widnes pressure in the second half before snatching the win late on.

Clitheroe settled quickly on the plastic pitch and played some of their best football of the season, with John McGrath pivotal in much of Clitheroe’s play. As early as three minutes in, McGrath crossed from the left only for Reece Webb-Foster to see his flick narrowly miss the goal. On 9 minutes, McGrath was the recipient of an excellent period of approach play but sent his shot wide. McGrath had his shot well saved on 16 minutes after cutting in from the left, and it was his pass which saw Domaine Rouse fouled in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, albeit the free kick came to nothing. As the half ticked down, Webb-Foster crossed for Accrington loanee Owen Devonport to head over, before Danny Wilkins repeated the feat only to see Billy Priestley’s header skim the bar with the keeper beaten.

The Widnes purple patch lasted twenty minutes in the second half and Clitheroe did well to keep them at bay. On 53 minutes, Preistley was harshly penalised for a free kick on the short side of the box. The free kick hit the bar and glanced off keeper Danny Taberner on the way out, before seconds later a dangerous shot was tipped on to the post by Taberner. Clitheroe’s short passing game was being disrupted by the home side and on 66 minutes, they survived a curling shot just beyond Taberner’s post. Two minutes later, an in swinging Widnes corner was glanced goalward only for Jacob Hanson to clear off the line. The drinks break for the high temperature allowed the Blues to regroup and ring the changes and from this point the game became more even. Finally, as penalties beckoned, Alex Henderson took the ball into the corner, wrong footed his marker and sent an instant cross on to the head of substitute Sefton Gonzales for a powerful finish.

Team: Taberner, Hanson, Rouse, Baker, Lancaster, Priestley, McGrath, Henderson,. Webb-Foster, Wilkins, Deveon[ort
Subs (used) Gonzales, Parny, Dent
Subs (not used) Jesus, Aazam, Howarth