Cleator Moor Celtic were unable to follow up a promising away performance on Saturday as they lost 3-0 at home to AFC Blackpool.
A hat-trick from Ric Seear gave Blackpool the win in what proved to be a rather bizarre game in which both teams were perplexed by some refereeing decisions.
Celtic manager Brian Dawson said: “I don’t like pointing the blame at any official but I think the game was spoiled as a contest by the referee if I’m honest.
“He set the tone by sin-binning one of the Blackpool players within five minutes. He gave them three penalties with the first two dubious at best. The third was a stonewall so I have no complaints there.
“After one of the penalties he sent two players off – one from each side – for nothing more than handbags and overall it was one of the most bizarre games of football I’ve been involved in.”
The first penalty was missed and Seear took the second to give Blackpool the lead just before half-time.
Seear added the second penalty and then completed his hat-trick in the closing stages.
“All that being said mind, we can’t use that as an excuse. It was a disappointing result although overall our performance was good.
“We had several opportunities in the first half and hit the woodwork three times but we didn’t take our chances.
“We need to be more clinical and take our chances. We certainly feel that last night was an opportunity to get some points on the board.
“Again we just have to dust ourselves down and prepare for the next game at home to Chadderton on Saturday,” said Dawson.
