Cleator Moor Celtic went down to another narrow defeat last night when they lost 3-2 at West Lancashire League leaders Milnthorpe Corinthians.
The Corinthians, managed by former Gretna, Kendal and Penrith boss Chris Humphreys, are still 100 per cent from their four opening games.
The Celtic management, however, think they could have earned a point in the two single goal defeats instead of being on the wrong end of the score-line. It proved again that football can be about fine margins.
They had got off to a flying start with a goal on two minutes from Tommy Whitehead but were pegged back two minutes later when veteran Shaun Gardner scored for Milnthorpe.
Celtic manager Brian Dawson said: “Credit to Milnthorpe they were very organised, had more of the ball and the better opportunities for the remainder of the half as we struggled to get to grips with their diamond in midfield.
“We were resorting to going long, which although tempting with the pace of our wide players, is not our game.
“At half-time we spoke about it, changed our formation and apart from a three-minute spell when they scored two quick goals, I felt we controlled thr game much better.”
Those goals on 53 minutes from Ewan Atkinson and then Gardner again proved decisive however.
“We created lots of chances and they only really looked dangerous on the counter. We pulled one back on 79 minutes through the impressive Trevor Hambling then pushed hard to get the equaliser but it never materialised.
“It’s always a tough ask coming away on a Tuesday night when we were missing several key players through work commitments but we can’t use that as an excuse,” said Dawson.
Dawson is looking to regroup and return to winning ways when they host Lostock on Saturday. They drew last night 1-1 at Blackpool Wren Rovers and are fifth in the table – a point and three places above Celtic.
