Penrith were beaten again at home in Northern League Division One, beaten 2-0 by Boro Rangers.
But manager Darren Edmondson found more positives than negatives after the previous week’s reality check.
“We had a new back three with a trio of centre-backs missing and two of them had played very little football.
“So overall, against a potential top five side, I thought there were plenty of positives.
“We played particularly well in the first-half, moving the ball and doing well up to their penalty area.
“That was where we didn’t do enough but it had been an encouraging first-half,” he said.
But things changed early in the second-half when Boro scored twice in a six minute spell and had enough about them to see it out after that.
Stuart Rose grabbed the first on 51 minutes and Daniel Lofts doubled the lead after 57 minutes.
Penrith have lost experienced goalkeeper Arran Taylor for the rest of the season with a broken cheekbone.
Young Harvey Reay deputise against Boro and Edmondson was pleased with his display.
“Boro like to get the ball into the area, drop the ball under the bar from free-kicks and corners, and young Harvey stood up well.
“Losing an experienced keeper like Arran is a blow and we have also lost Dan Smales with a serious knee injury so that hasn’t been good for the closing weeks,” said Edmondson.
Penrith don’t have a mid-week game and resume on Saturday at home to fifth-placed Birtley Town.
