John McGrath scored twice as Widnes progressed through in the FA Trophy with a 2-0 win at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

McGrath’s first goal perhaps came in fortuitous circumstances but his second was a touch of sheer class as the Whites earned themselves a berth in the third qualifying round.

The result is Widnes’ fourth successive clean sheet in all competitions – a run of 403 minutes without conceding a goal.

Manager Dave Dempsey made two changes to the side that had been held to a goalless draw at home to Newcastle Town last time out.

With full-back Jack Hatton injured, Matty Makinson was handed a recall while Liam Kennington started in place of Jordan Barrow who dropped to the bench.

Elsewhere, Mikey Conlon and Tyler Magee were named in a matchday squad for the first time since Dempsey’s appointment, while new signing Callum Leigh was amongst the substitutes.

The Whites took a ninth minute lead.

There was little to separate the side in the early exchanges, but Widnes landed the first blow with McGrath cutting inside from the right to fire inside of the near post, aided by a slight deflection that wrong-footed Stocksbridge keeper Edward Hall.

Dempsey’s side would have been disappointed not to have increased their lead after 17 minutes.

Sam Adetiloye intercepted a loose pass and drove towards goal, but Hall was out quickly to close down the angle and make a decent save.

Skipper Mike Burke nodded over from a corner for Widnes before Owen Wheeler was called into action for the first time in the contest, making a routine save from Luke Mangham and a strong glove to push a powerful Sam Finlaw effort away to safety.

Widnes started the second half well as they twice threatened a second goal, but James Steele fired into the side netting while McGrath blazed high and wide of the target.

Steels, the South Yorkshire-based club where Jamie Vardy began his senior career, did show signs of life but repeatedly came unstuck against a well-organised Widnes defence marshalled by skipper Burke and James McCulloch.

Wheeler was called into action to produce an impressive save from Kurtis Tuner while his opposite number Hall kept Stocksbridge in the game with a fine stop to deny Steele a certain tap-in.

The second goal was crucial, and much to the relief of the travelling Widnes faithful, the visitors made sure of the result 10 minutes from time.

While his first goal was a touch fortuitous, McGrath’s second oozed class as the winger drove forward from inside his own half, glided beyond the challenges of Jordan Lemon and Liam McFadyen and arrowed a measured finish into the far corner.

The reward for Widnes is a tie at Bootle in the third qualifying round on Saturday 30 October.