Whitehaven were beaten 3-0 in their latest West Lancashire League game at Rossendale.
But there were some positives for manager Brian Dawson after he only had 12 players, including seven of the Under-18s.
They were in the game for 70 minutes, creating opportunities but the lack of numbers on the bench and some flagging legs cost them later in the game.
Scott Wylie scored the opener for Rossendale in the 13th minute after a rather nervous start by the west Cumbrians.
But they got their game together and did well for the rest of the half and into the second period.
A long ball from the keeper in the 70th minute caught out the Whitehaven defence and Wylie went on to lift the ball over Joe Rumney for his second goal.
That might have been a fair reflection on the state of the game but Rossendale added a third in the last minute from Ismael Usman and Rumney produced a couple of outstanding saves to deny the home side more.
Millom’s recent good run was ended at home by Blackpool Wren Rovers who travelled to south Cumbria and went home ith the points from a 2-0 win.
The home side missed a couple of good chances in the first half before Rovers took the lead on 21 minutes through Kian Makepeace.
Millom had plenty of the possession in the second-half without creating many chances and they were undone by a second Makepeace goal on 63 minutes direct from a free kick.
Milnthorpe Corinthians continued their improvement with a solid 1-1 draw at CMB, although it needed a Zach Clark goal four minutes from the end to earn the point.
CMB had taken the lead in the 71st minute when Dan Crook scored from the penalty spot.
Cleator Moor Celtic’s home game with Burscough Richmond was called off because of a frozen pitch.
You can hear below what Whitehaven manager Brian Dawson thought of his side’s performance at Rossendale:
