Penrith were pegged back at Seaham Red Star to lose their Northern League clash 2-1.
The Cumbrians had led 1-0 at half-time but two goals inside three minutes during Seaham’s best spell of the game got them in front and they held on.
“I’m gutted to have lost the game but there were some positives, particularly in the first-half. We had intensity, passion, good football and good structure and we were comfortable dealing with their counter attacks.
“They came out of the blocks quickly in the second-half and were the better team. Both their goals in quick time should have been prevented.
“Goalkeeper Az Taylor was our best player last season, and has been in formidable form this time round. He doesn’t make many mistakes but this was one and they scored.
“But we had opportunities to make it 2-2 before the end and didn’t take them. We have to do better in the final third and maybe take on shots a bit earlier.
“Overall, though, despite being disappointed by the result the performance was much more like where kit should be after a poor effort on Saturday when we lost 4-0.
“However that was our sixth away game on the spin and Seaham on a Tuesday night is a really tough trip for a part-time team. Maybe that had something to do with the second-half.
“But we have to get sorted for an FA Cup-tie on Saturday. It means we won’t have home advantage because of what’s going on at our ground and we have to travel there.
“I know that we have players away or working so there will have to be changes and that’s the most frustrating part of management not being able to find a settled side#.”
:Luke Hunter had given Penrith the lead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute but goals from Jordan Patterson (62) and Adam Burnicle (65) won it for Seaham.
Consett won 2-1 at Wintertyon Rangers on Saturday in theie first NPL East fixture of the season.
In a bizarre game on Tuesday Consett v Pontefract was eventually abandoned after 82 minutes with the home side leading 1-0.
It had been delayed 45 minutes because of a deluge and staff worked hard to get the pitch playable.
But play was interrupted just 12 minutes in when one of the floodlights failed, plunging part of the pitch into near-darkness.
After a 15-minute delay the power was restored, and Consett took the lead in the ninth minute of added time at the end of the first half when Ben Ramsey crossed for Zak Atkinson to finish into the bottom corner for 1-0.
It stayed that way but with 82 minutes gone the same floodlight pylon which had caused the interruption in the first half went out again, leaving the referee with little option but to abandon the game,
