Widnes slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Northern Premier League West Division table-toppers Workington on Saturday.

Ceiran Casson’s 46th minute goal was enough to condemn the Whites to a sixth defeat in their opening eight league games – their first match under new manager Dave Dempsey.

In truth, Widnes defended well against the visiting Reds, but their backline was breached on the counter-attack and Dempsey’s side subsequently lacked any sort of punch in front of goal to worry Workington.

Dempsey made four changes to the side that drew at Glossop North End under the interim management of Mike Burke last time out. River Humphreys, Matty Makinson, Kyle Sambor and Ben Hampson all earned recalls with Burke, Joe Wright and Ryan Watters dropping to the bench.

Elsewhere, Sam Adetiloye was ruled out through injury.

It was Workington who had the game’s first real sight of goal after 13 minutes through Steven Rigg, but Owen Wheeler was equal to the effort after Iyrwah Gooden robbed Humphreys of possession in the build-up.

Chris Willcock’s side are unbeaten thus far this season and were inches away from edging themselves in front midway through the first half, but Widnes’ stand-in skipper Fisnik Hajdari was on hand to head Sam Smith’s seemingly goalbound effort off the line.

Widnes, the division’s lowest scorers with just three goals, struggled to fashion too many openings and Sambor’s mis-hit shot from 25 yards – comfortably gathered by Daniel Eccles – was the Whites’ only first half effort on goal.

Despite offering little going forward, new boss Dempsey would have been pleased with his side’s first half showing, but their hard work was undone less than 60 seconds after the restart.

Workington dealt with a Widnes free-kick and launched a blistering counter-attack with Conor Gaul filtering a well-timed pass through to Casson who rounded the on-rushing Wheeler before providing a neat finish into an empty net.

Widnes defender Matty Makinson felt that Casson was marginally offside, but replays showed the Workington goalscorer was level with Shaun Holden as he raced clear.

Dempsey’s men almost responded eight minutes after going behind.

James Steele looked to capitalise on a rare lapse of concentration from a stout Workington backline as he raced in behind and crossed for Sambor, but his first-time strike was brilliantly beaten away by Eccles, who was then equal to Liam Kennington’s rebound.

In truth, that was as close as Widnes got to an equaliser with the Cumbrian-based side, led by the fantastic former Whites defender Kyle Harrison, isolated striker Sambor and frustrated the hosts’ flair players in Steele and Ryan Jennings.

It was a professional performance from Workington, who will be targeting a promotion this term that they will feel is two years overdue.

Rigg was denied a goal on the hour-mark by a strong Ben Hampson challenge, before being inches away from turning home Brad Hubbold’s cross eight minutes later.

Dempsey introduced Ryan Watters, Louis Danquah and Tyler Magee from the bench but despite a period of late pressure, and a 95th minute corner, Workington held on for all three points.