REPORT | Clitheroe 0-1 Widnes

Louis Isherwood struck a first half winner as Widnes earned an impressive 1-0 win away at Clitheroe.

Chances were at a premium in Lancashire but the Whites deserved their opener when it came after 28 minutes.

Jack Byrne had a shot blocked from a Matty Rain corner and when the ball deflected back out to Rain, he burrowed his way into the area and squared for Isherwood to turn home into an empty net.

Michael Ellison's team were a matter of inches away from going in at half time with a 2-0 lead but Matt Van Wyk's opportunistic effort from 40 yards crashed against the crossbar after he spotted goalkeeper Danny Taberner off his line.

The hosts, managed by former Widnes boss Dave Dempsey, improved in the second half but were largely impotent, with the Whites holding firm to limit the effectiveness of Clitheroe's imposing frontman Sefton Gonzales.

John McGrath, formerly of Widnes, came closest to scoring for Clitheroe but his powerful effort from 25 yards was superbly beaten away by the impressive Cameron Terry.

Widnes were defiant as Clitheroe exerted late pressure and their victory was all-but secured when the Blues' Lee Pugh was shown a second yellow card and sent off four minutes into second half stoppage time.