Cleator Moor Celtic only drew 2-2 at struggling Wyre Villa in the West Lancashire League’s Premier Division.
Manager Stuart Shaw was really disappointed with the result, even though he had gone with seven or eight senior players missing.
“It gave lads the opportunity to claim the shirt for themselves and one positive was seeing our youngest player in the squad Flynn Purdham making his debut at 16 years old.
“He’s such a brilliant kid, his attitude is perfect and he came on to do everything he was supposed to. He’s got a bright future at this football club and I was delighted for him.”
Celtic had made a poor start to the game and eventually next-to-bottom of the table Wyre Villa take advantage of free kicks on the edge of the area, which were tucked away by Sam Bowling and Cole Pratt.
They were just about the only chances the Villa had in the whole game and Celtic had scored between the two Villa goals.
It came from a superb strike by Zach Benson Lester into the top corner but they went in at half-time 2-1 behind.
Shaw said: “Some stern words were said at half time and changes got us back to the tempo we wanted in the second-half.
“It just felt like a matter of time before we scored and Jack Burns coming on changed the game completely for us, getting us playing on the front foot.
“Our second goal came again from Zach Benson Lester with a brilliant header to get us level with 30 minutes to go.
“Wyre Villa’s captain flew into a tackle and received a second yellow card with 15 minutes to go, so they just sat in and protected a point.
“At full-time it certainly felt like a win for them and like a loss for us. It simply was not good enough because of the chances we had created but were not able to put in the back of the net.
“Goals win you games of football not chances created or possession of the football and we have to be better in that final third of the field.”
Celtic are back on the road again on Saturday when they travel to Poulton FC who are a point behind the Cumbrians in the table but with two games in hand.
However, they were beaten 4-0 at home on Saturday by Hurst Green and they are the team sandwiched between Celtic and Poulton in the table.
