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Gilmore’s goal gives Vikings the edge on Panthers Tom Gilmore’s drop goal proved decisive as Widnes Vikings edged out Halifax Panthers by a single point at the Shay on Sunday. The Betfred Championship round 24 clash was one of fine margins and Panthers pushed their fifth-placed opponents all the way but came up agonisingly short in the end. The visitors took the load with only eight minutes gone when the ball was worked across the field for Mike Butt to touch-down in the corner. That proved to be the only score of the first half and it was cancelled out 10 minutes after the resumption when Vikings failed to deal with a Panthers’ kick and Luckas Sableman-Blue went over for an unconverted try out wide. Widnes regained the initiative however and Dan Murray regathered his own kick to cross the whitewash, Danny Richardson adding the extras. Gilmore extended the lead with a drop goal eight minutes from time only for Halifax to respond three minutes later when Ben Forster barged over the line. Darius Carter’s successful conversion narrowed the gap to a single point and set up a tense finish. The home side pushed forward as they sought a match-winning score but the Vikings’ defence held firm to clinch a narrow win.