Long trip leaves Young empty-handed

Goals from Josh Palmer (2), Dan Hill (2), Zac Benson-Lester and Sam Stones gave the hosts the win, with Hurst Green getting goals through Daniel Mort, Ryan Duncan and James Whitworth.

“When you go away in this league, you’ve got to be competitive and do the right things,” said Young.

“It’s not about playing silky football, it’s about competing and we just didn’t do that for 30 or 40 minutes of the game.

“It’s disappointing when you travel so far that you put that performance in, it’s not what we’re about - we got a humbling.

“Cleator Moor were excellent, they competed everywhere and they have got a good team this year so they deserved the three points.”

Young has been at the club for over two decades all told, playing for them for 20 years and taking over as first team manager in November 2023.

In his second full season, the team’s aims are to be ‘competitive’, after a 10th-place finish in a ‘transition season’ in 2024-25.

“We want to be closer to the top end than the bottom end, we’re seventh at the moment and it’s been a tricky league this year.

“The teams you’d maybe expect to be up there, aren’t there and there are games that we should’ve won that we’ve lost and vice versa.

“We’ve probably played better than seventh place suggests but that’s where we are currently.”

Off the pitch, Hurst Green carry themselves and the village with a lot of pride.

“We advertise ourselves as the best team in the league, we want to be that desirable club that players look at.

“We can’t go any higher, we’re not looking at the North West Counties.

“The pitch is excellent, the committee are great and we’re in a good place.

“We’ve got a big home following now, they love the club and going to games is a community thing for many people.”

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, second and third placed Haslingden St Mary’s and Tempest United both enjoyed 6-1 wins over Coppull United and Milnthorpe Corinthians respectively.

Eagley extended their unbeaten run to 12 games with a 4-0 victory at Millom and Saul Guffogg scored a last minute winner as Burscough Richmond triumphed 1-0 against Rossendale.

In Division One, Ulverston Rangers climbed to the top of the table in some style with a 9-2 win over Freckleton, which saw Lewis Jones and Isaac Prosser score hat tricks, with Ben Wheeler, Matty Lawler and Josh Cronin also getting their names on the scoresheet.

Kendal County are up to second after a 7-2 victory against Chipping; Matty Carson netted four of the hosts’ seven goals.

Kendal United also secured a big three points - they were 7-1 winners over Turton - while Hesketh Bank held off a late Askam United comeback away from home to triumph 3-2.

In Division Two, Stoneclough maintained their perfect start from the opening 10 games with a comfortable 3-0 win at Galgate.

Dan Metge scored a hat trick as Charnock Richard Reserves got a first away win of the season, defeating Caton United 5-0.

Thornton Cleveleys Reserves scored all their goals in the final half an hour to see off Hawcoat Park 4-1, while Appley Bridge were 4-0 winners at home to Walney Island.

To Reserve Division One, and there was late drama as Carnforth Rangers Reserves’ George Pedley scored a 90th minute winner at Coppull United in the only goal of the game.

There were two thrillers in Reserve Division Two: Fulwood Amateurs A battled to a 5-3 win over Astley & Buckshaw Reserves, for whom Charlie Swindlehurst scored a second half hat trick, while Lytham Town Reserves held firm and clung onto a 5-4 win over Milnthorpe Corinthians Reserves.

In the first round of the Lancashire Amateur Cup, Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves progressed after a 7-0 win at Astley FC.

Haslingden St Mary’s Reserves, Garstang Reserves, Euxton Villa Reserves, Bamber Bridge Reserves, Croston Sports Reserves and Stoneclough Reserves made it through in normal time while Lostock St Gerards Reserves needed spot kicks against Feniscowles and Pleasington to book their place in the next round.

In the Lancashire Amateur Shield first round, Carnforth Rangers, Storeys of Lancaster and Astley & Buckshaw secured their spot in round two.