Cleator Moor Celtic got off the mark in the North West Counties League with a creditable 3-0 win at Nelson.
It lifted the Cumbrians off the bottom of First Division North and sets them up for another away game tomorrow at Atherton LR who are just a point ahead of them.
Manager Brian Dawson was relieved to get off the mark and believes the initial victory will be a massive morale-booster.
He said: “It was a near-perfect away performance from us in truth. We had several absentees due to holidays, festivals etc so we tweaked the formation and set the team up to suit.
“I’m delighted to say the boys executed the game plan to a tee!”
“I think with confidence low it was imperative we got our noses in front which we did and that gave us the platform to build on within the game.
“There were some great individual performances but the pleasing thing for us was collectively we looked like a team for probably the first time thids season.
“We also ended up with four 16-year-olds on the pitch which is a hugw credit to the club and it’s junior set-up.”
Early pressure had paid off for Celtic when they took the lead on 23 minutes after a good build-up ended with skipper Kieran Maguire firing home.
They had to withstand some pressure from Nelson at the start of the second half but did well on the hour when a superb counter attack got them a second goal.
From a Nelson corner they broke effectively and Luke Ivison played in Connor Hammill who went round the home keeper to double the Celtic lead.
Ten minutes from time Celtic cemented their performance with a third goal. More good build-up play ended with Maguire thumping home his second.
In the same Division Holker Old Boys snatched as last minute winner to beat AFC Blackpool after they had been trailing 3-1 in the 70th minute.
Jamie Hodgson had given Holker a 1-0 half-time lead but Blackpool hit back with three second half goals.
In a storming rally Jason Walker converted a 75th minute penalty before Callum Fawcett levelled on 83 minutes. Then in the last-minute Nathan Reid scored to give the Old Boys a dramatic 4-3 victory.
