Resolute CMB on a roll after 'smash and grab'

Archer spoke passionately about his and the club’s story over the past 19 years following their 1-0 away win over Cleator Moor Celtic in the Premier Division, with Carl Grimshaw getting the goal.

“To be fair, position-wise, Cleator Moor are below us,” said Archer. "But I thought they were a very good team.

“They knocked the ball around well, dominated possession, but we are what we are: we're resolute, hard-working lads, some of them have been here for 10 years plus.

“We know how to put a shift in, know how to get a result and it was a bit smash and grab if you like, but we're on a bit of a roll at the minute.

“We’ve sorted a few things out and we've won the last three, maybe we’re peaking at the right time.”

CMB have the Bolton Hospital Cup to compete for in the final stages of the season, a competition they are defending after victory last year, as well as in 2021.

They are into the last eight of a tournament that starts out with 16 - along with fellow West Lancs League sides Eagley, Tempest United and Turton - after a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Little Lever SC last week.

After a 17-year spell as club captain, Archer took on the role of manager last summer following the end of Matt Taylor’s five-year stint.

CMB currently sit 10th in the Premier Division, a lower position than what they have been used to in recent years, but Archer sees opportunity rather than disappointment.

“Not much changed [when Archer took over], I was assistant and had sort of retired after busting my knee.

“Matt did great, he was a lovely guy with a good football brain.

“We knew exactly what was coming this season, we’ve got an ageing team.

“It’s a slight decline in performance but we know what we’re about; it’s a collective, it’s more than football and it’s a selection of lads that work hard for each other.

“Myself and Chris Tong set up the first team almost 20 years ago and we’ve just been promoted, promoted, promoted… it's the first season that we've not been involved at the top of the table but that’s when you find out people’s characters.

“It’s been a nice season to assess people, we've probably had it too nice for too long.

“It’s been my favourite season, to be honest with you and I’m glad I’m the manager at this point in time.

“Some other teams in our local area say they have a downturn and they maybe get relegated but we were never going to be in trouble because we’ve got a good set of industrious lads who get results.”

Being one of the key players in the setup of the first team means Archer has an obvious emotional connection to the club.

“It's been a lovely journey. We’re rock and roll, that’s what we’re all about.

“It’s how our team players, it’s how we’re like.

“We have a great camaraderie and it’s stayed with us for a good few years now.

“It’s a personal journey for me too, I didn’t expect to be in this position as manager because you think you can play forever!

“Without wanting to sound cheesy, it’s not the destination or the journey, it's the company, in any walk of life, and that’s what CMB has at its forefront.

"We’re in a cycle - we’re the Salvador Dali of amateur football!”

Archer says the club have had ‘casual’ talks about progressing up the pyramid in the future - they would need floodlights to do so - but says there has to be realism.

“There doesn’t have to be a big change or rejuvenation, it’s just a process that we’re in.

“It's a big thing shifting to [North West Counties], especially in quite an affluent area.

“There have been and there are talks about it, obviously, that's the end goal but we're new in the grand scheme of things.

“Some clubs have been around for upwards of a hundred years, we’ve been around for 20 years and our acceleration has been ridiculous!

“It’s something we do think about. Why not progress? That’s the whole point.”

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, third placed Haslingden St Mary’s defeated Rossendale 2-0 thanks to Charlie Ridge and Jack Greenwood’s second half goals.

Blackpool Wren Rovers remain in fourth after a 3-1 victory at home to Millom.

Rob Hanslip gave them a one-goal lead at the break but Harry Rowley levelled the scoring two minutes into the second half, but Danny Fletcher and Tarren Moxon found the net later in the half to keep Wren Rovers’ good form going.

Milnthorpe Corinthians won 2-0 over Astley & Buckshaw after early strikes from Robbie Mooring and Zach Clark, Whitehaven and Poulton played out an entertaining 3-3 draw and Burscough Richmond v Tempest United finished 1-1.

Hesketh Bank were confirmed as Division One champions on Saturday after a 3-0 win at Carnforth Rangers.

They secured the title with one game left thanks to a dominant first half display with goals coming from Peter Atkinson-Jones, Luke Smith and Kevin Edgar.

Kendal County climbed back up to second and went three points clear of Carnforth after a stunning 9-0 win at home to Slyne with Hest.

Louis Miller, Ryan Close (2), Matty Casson (2), Lewis Casson, Jamie Noreci (2) and Ruben Swallow were all on the scoresheet; both Kendal County and Carnforth have four games left to battle it out for second.

With three games left, fifth-placed Kendal United could still mathematically clinch second but a lot would have to go in their favour, just like it did on Saturday in a 5-3 win at Lytham Town.

Lytham were in the ascendancy early thanks to goals from Danny Scarlett and James McCulloch but hat-trick hero Joe Hodgson, Steve Brown and Ashton Hogg secured a thrilling win for Kendal United, not before a late Olly Hesford consolation.

Freckleton captain Jack Williams grabbed a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Turton which sealed their survival, Croston Sports edged past Askam United 1-0 and Crooklands Casuals saw off Chipping 3-1.

Fulwood Amateurs Reserves secured their promotion from Division Two in style with yet another huge win; they beat Charnock Richard Reserves 5-0.

Hugo Strand (2), Jacob Lucas, Dylan Jackson-Cooney and Joe Collins all scored as Fulwood’s free-flowing football finally earned them the ultimate prize.

Second-placed Stoneclough are now six points clear of Storeys with three games left after a 3-0 win at home to Dalton United: Rory Cormack, Nathan Monson and Jumaane Meggoe were on the scoresheet.

Two seven-goal thrillers saw Bamber Bridge Reserves overcome Appley Bridge 4-3 and Mill Hill won against Hawcoat Park by the same scoreline.

Euxton Villa Reserves came from a goal down to beat Caton United 2-1 while Garstang Reserves drew 1-1 with Langho.

In Reserve Division One, CMB Reserves comprehensively beat Turton Reserves 5-1 and Poulton Reserves saw off Haslingden Reserves 3-1.

Meanwhile, the division’s top two Lostock St Gerards and Blackpool Wren Rovers Reserves drew 1-1 and an end-to-end affair between Eagley Reserves and Tempest Reserves ended 3-3.

In Reserve Division Two, Fulwood Amateurs A edged closer to promotion with a 2-0 win over Stoneclough Reserves, Astley & Buckshaw Reserves beat Rossendale Reserves 3-0 and Pause Reserves saw off Storeys Reserves 4-2.