Cleator Moor Celtic slipped to a third successive defeat when they lost 5-3 at home to Blackpool Wren Rovers.
It was a game the hosts should have won comfortably after creating numerous opportunities in the first-half when they took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Manager Stuart Shaw described it as a game of two halves after admitting to be very disappointed with how it turned out.
He said: “I was delighted with the response after conceding such a poor goal and going 1-0 behind.
“We responded by scoring two brilliant goals before half time from Tom Mahone and Tommy Whitehead.
“But in the first half we should have been out of sight. I counted 11 clear cut chances to put the ball in the back of the net and a mixture of some good saves from Blackpool’s goalkeeper.
“We were not as clinical as what I expect in front of goal.
“Going in at half time it was emphasised we still had to be aware of the danger that Blackpool had going forward as they looked dangerous.
“But the words we had at half time I might as well have said nothing.
“The first 15 minutes were vital for us and we conceded two 2 goals within four minutes which is not acceptable at all.
“We responded again by pulling it back to 3-3 with a well-worked move down the left side by Tom Mahone and Luke Close to find Adam Smith who scored with a great diving header.
“Then we made countless mistakes, were lazy and players were not doing what’s required to see games through so that we concedes another two goals to lose the game 5-3.
“I was massively disappointed and the lads knew that come the final whistle. Now the response has to be bigger than ever with three away games on the bounce, firstly away to Burscough Richmond which will show me who wants to be with me and my coaching staff and who doesn’t.”
Celtic are eighth in the table but are only three points outside the top five.
Whitehaven are 11th four points behind their Cumbrian neighbours but their game at Turton was postponed because of a frozen pitch.
