Workington clinched three valuable points from their NPL West match of the day in front of the biggest attendance of the season.
A crowd of 845 saw centre-back Sam Smith grab the only goal of the game on 16 minutes, a superb strike on the end of a Dav Symington free kick.
Symington curled a free kick into the box and Smith flashed home the kind of finish any centre forward would have been pleased with.
It rounded-off a bright start by the Cumbrians who played their best football of the game in the opening 20 minutes.
Symington had already brought out the best in Clitheroe keeper Chris Thompson with a powerful shot on the run which was tipped over the bar.
Thompson also distinguished himself with a brave block to deny ex-Clitheroe forward Conor Gaul after he had first turned aside a deflected Symington free kick.
Clitheroe’s best opportunity of the half fell to former Workington winger Ben McKenna who was unable to beat home keeper Jim Atkinson when put clear down the middle.
The second-half was largely scrappy, and no showcase for the footballing ability of both sides, but there were opportunities.
Symington hit the bar with a powerful free kick while late in the game Clitheroe substitute Max Cane fired wide from six yards.
There were increasing niggles as the game reached its climax and deep into time added on Clitheroe’s Ross Dent was shown a straight red for a bad challenge on Dan Wordsworth.
Workington manager Chris Willcock praised the hard-working performance from his side which had formed the basis of the win.
“We battled particularly hard in difficult conditions and I thought we created some good chances in the first half.
“The second half became a bit scrappy but they only had one late chance and I thought we defended really well for another clean sheet, Sam Smith and Dan Wordsworth were outstanding again at the centre of the defence,” he said.
