Cleator Moor Celtic continued their fight to climb the North West Counties League with a fine 3-1 home win over Atherton LR.
They had trailed 1-0 at the break but hit back well and would have been even more convincing winners if Atherton’s keeper had not been in outstanding form.
Manager Martin Mahone said: “I’m really proud of how the boys came back to win. We might be short of one or two things, but spirit and determination aren’t among them.
“It’s helping as well that we have a good squad out for each game. I had five good senior players on the bench for this one.
“The message is clear. Get the shirt and earn the right to keep it. I couldn’t be happier with them at the moment.”
Atherton had gone in front after 22 minutes when they scored from a corner, but in the main, it was Celtic who dictated play.
Two minutes into the second half Celtic were level. Callum Birdsall was tripped in the box and the referee blew for a penalty.
But after going down Birdsall managed to flick out a foot and divert the ball into the net.
The spot-kick had to be taken, however, and Tom Mahone made no mistake for the equaliser.
Two minutes later the hosts were in front with Jay Weatherill adding to his collection of superb finishes with another from the edge of the area.
Mahone, Weatherill and Jamie Glover were all denied by the Atherton keeper before the third goal arrived on 67 minutes.
From a corner, Birdsall’s looping header beat a number of covering defenders to find the net.
There were more heroics from the Atherton goalkeeper to deny Celtic any further goals before the end.
But Celtic have a big game in prospect on Wednesday night when they travel to Darwen.
They are two places and four points better off than Celtic at the moment from the same number of games but had a very good win over AFC Blackpool yesterday.
Mahone said: “We haven’t been done any favours over fixtures. So far we have not had a home midweek game in the league but have had to travel on several occasions.
“Like a lot more clubs we are fighting for our lives to stay in this league. It is important we stay at this level in the North West Counties and personally I’m not even considering relegation.
“After all the rain we’ve had in West Cumbria this week our pitch was magnificent, and that’s down to the drainage system we had installed.
“That was only possible because of the level we play at, which is why we will be doing all we can to stay at this level – even if we do have to travel away so often in midweek.”
