CMB took advantage of a Hawcoat Park side with nothing to play for, enjoying a comfortable 4-1 victory.

The Chew Moor Brook team, promoted as winners of Division Two last term, are still in the running to move into the Premier Division.

Phil Roberts’ men counted themselves unfortunate – or wasteful – not to be four goals up at the break but, after Mike McGinley had headed in a Jamie Hilton cross to put them ahead on the half-hour mark, the Cumbrians ensured parity at half-time with a set-piece goal in the half’s dying moments.

There was no such profligacy from CMB in the second period though. They hit three goals without reply to send their mid-table visitors home empty-handed.

The team’s driving force came from the inspired introduction of Liam Carr, who hit two excellent goals, and Matty Carr, who rounded off the scoring.

“It was a very decent win, we should have been four up at half-time but we missed a lot of early chances, including two that were close to the goal with only the keeper to beat,” recalled Roberts.

“About 10 minutes into the second half I threw Liam on with one instruction – to win us the game. And he did that with two good goals in 20 minutes.

“His first was brilliant, a diving header from Scott McNair’s cross, and for his second he worked hard to chase the keeper down as he was clearing the ball, he charged it down and was left to score in an empty net.

“To be honest we were much the better side and Matty Carr scored a fourth goal that we deserved in a goalmouth scramble five minutes from time.”

The New Tempest Road club has been in a purple patch in the last couple of years, with an appearance in 2015’s Lancashire Amateur Shield final preceding their promotion last season.

With the three sides above them still to play each other there are high hopes they could yet win promotion.

“We are up to fourth with games in hand, and although Haslingden look strong for the title I think second is up for grabs,” added Roberts.

“Our confidence had taken a battering earlier in the season when we were having a lot of games called off but we have a lot of games still to come and if we can get a run of games together and play every week we are a much better team.

“Saturday was the strongest team I’ve ever been able to pick, we’ve got everyone available, ready to play and we have strength in depth.”

Elsewhere, ninth-placed Stoneclough were defeated 2-1 at home to Askam United.

In the Premier Division, Eagley were denied a much-needed win at Tempest United by Jack Iley’s late equaliser in a 2-2 draw.

The relegation-threatened Eagles had led with an early own goal, but Tempest pegged them back before half-time through Jack Burke.

Ryan Hardwidge restored Eagley’s advantage 15 minutes from time but Iley salvaged a point in the 85th minute.

Eagley must brush off their disappointment as they have another derby tonight, when they travel to Turton.

That games’s hosts will go into it on the back of a 2-1 win at Thornton Cleveleys, with Ally Dickson scoring one in each half.