Cleator Moor Celtic produced a fine team performance to win 3-1 at Garstang in the North West Counties League.
Manager Martin Mahone said: “We had a strong side out, with five first-teamers on the bench and the lads were superb.
“I’ve said all season that if we can get our strongest squad out we will give anybody in the league a game.
“In the end at Garstang, we were comfortable and thoroughly deserving winners.”
Callum Birdsall had given Celtic the lead in a fairly even first-half when play moved freely from end to end.
It might have looked ominous when the hosts scored early in the second half but Celtic came back strongly to score twice more and finished on top.
Tom Ward hit a cracker to restore the lead and then Jay Weatherill, who has been scoring on a regular basis, had a tap in for the third.
Mahone said: “After being pegged back the lads showed great character to come back and win the game and deservedly so.
“We desperately want to play on Saturday when we are at home to Atherton LR to maintain a bit of momentum.
“The weather has been awful of course, and we are in the lap of the gods, but new drains at the ground have been working well and I just hope we can get the game on at the weekend.
“We will have another strong team out, although Tom Ward who scored at Garstang and who has been a particularly consistent performer for us, is missing this weekend.”
Celtic are still in the relegation zone, four points off safety. They are currently nine points behind Saturday’s visitors Atherton LR but do have a game in hand.
