Faith in youth keeps Charnock on right path despite defeat

And with that mission there will inevitably some tough lessons along the way – just as they experienced on Tuesday against local rivals Euxton Villa Reserves.

Solid for 38 minutes, the youthful home side conceded four goals in seven minutes to go in at the break 4-0 down.

A battling second half performance saw them compete and hit the woodwork twice before eventually falling to a 5-0 loss.

Billington said: “The first 38 minutes we were in the game and should have gone one up.

“And then we had a four-minute period where we collapsed and made the wrong decisions and conceded four goals and it’s game over.

“That’s what happens with young lads.

“That’s exactly the story of our season where we put in decent performances then lose concentration and concede silly goals.

“At half-time we said we you’ve got to go and try to win the second half. The first half had gone and I don’t think we were ever going to score four goals in the second half.

“To be fair we made some good chances and hit the bar twice and it could have been 4-2.”

His dugout partner Joe Singleton knows the bigger picture is more important – but he wouldn’t mind a taste of silverware along the way.

“Our job is to really progress lads through to the first team,” he said.

“It’s difficult as a reserve team side to compete and go and get promoted.

“We’ve only seen Holker Old Boys Reserves over the past few years that have managed to do that but there are opportunities there.

“We’ve been fortunate with Ethan Eccleston, Tom Cardwell, Pedro Santos signing on for the first team. A couple of lads have made appearances too, Luca Latoma.

“That’s the mandate for us but would be nice to combine that with a cup.

“We’ve got a massive opportunity in September when we play Croston in the (Richardson) cup. While you want good performances in the league, if we can have a good cup run, let’s try and go for it.”

Elsewhere in Division Two, Matthew Pearson hit a hat-trick in Dalton United’s 10-1 victory over Caton United while Owen Coyle Junior hit a late winner in the battle of the new clubs, Langho emerging victorious 3-2 at Appley Bridge.

Kieran Solloway hit a brace in Walney Island’s 2-1 win at Hawcoat Park.

Stoneclough kept up their perfect record so far with a 5-1 defeat of Mill Hill and Storeys now have seven wins from eight games after a 4-0 win at Galgate.

And Thornton Cleveleys Reserves ran out 5-2 winners at Garstang Res to go fourth, Harry Fryer with a treble.

In Division One, Kendal County won the big derby against Kendal United 2-0 while Ulverston kept up their fine form with a 5-0 win at Crooklands.

Jordan Chubb got an injury time winner in Askam’s 4-3 win at Holker Old Boys Res and Ethan Edmundson grabbed a double in Chipping’s 4-0 win at Slyne.

Lytham won the south Fylde derby against Freckleton 3-1.

Croston edged a close game at Hesketh Bank 1-0 while Carnforth Rangers were close to an eye-catching win at high-flying Pause only for the home team to score twice in the last 10 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw.

In the Premier Division, Hurst Green are ticking nicely after a 1-0 win at Blackpool Wren Rovers while Astley & Buckshaw have now won three on the bounce following their 3-1 success at Coppull, Jordan Griffiths with a pair of goals.

The top two enjoyed impressive away wins – Eagley with a second 3-1 away in in three days, Finlay Stafford with a hat-trick in their victory at Rossendale.

And Haslingden St Mary’s blew Lostock St Gerards away early on, going 4-1 up inside 25 minutes before eventually prevailing 6-2.

Finally, Tempest United have rocketed up to third after a 3-1 win at near neighbours CMB.