Cleator Moor Celtic were beaten 3-2 at home by Burscough Richmond in a West Lancashire League game that could have gone either way.
Zak Carberry had given the visitors a 20th minute lead which was doubled after 29 minutes by Jordan Lorde, before Ben McCarron pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.
Unfortunately Celtic conceded again two minutes after the restart when Lorde scored his second, but McCarron kept the home side in contention by netting his second.
Celtic manager Stuart Shaw had mixed feelings about the defeat and felt his side deserved to get something from the game.
“I was disappointed how we conceded two the three goals from sloppy defending and making it too easy to get in on our goal.
“Their second goal, to Burscough’s credit, came from a brilliant cross and good header from the most dangerous player.
“But that’s the difference in football. I felt they’ve had three chances and taken them. On the other hand we have created endless amount of chances and not taken them.
“Fifteen minutes into the game we could have had two or three goals ourselves, and had a great shout for what everyone thought was a stone wall penalty.
“I could feel the frustration in the changing room afterwards and disbelief that we had come away with nothing from the game.
“Our effort and domination of the game for 75 minutes was pleasing and certainly heading in the right direction as a group of young players.”
Shaw had a special word for Ben McCarron who scored both the Celtic goals.
“He was outstanding after missing a great chance early on when he went round the keeper but fired straight at him.
“He didn’t let that affect him, working hard for his team and he got his rewards scoring just before half time.
“Then he scored a brilliant individual goal in the second half to pull us back to 3-2. It’s great to see him getting his confidence back and firing in goals.”
Burscough had to dig deep for the last 15 minutes after having a player sin-binned but defended solidly against everything that Celtic threw at them and the home side couldn’t break through.
Celtic have another home game on Saturday when they welcome Milnthorpe Corinthians to The Travis Perkins Ground.
