NEW CMB manager Rob Pennington praised the attitude of his players as they got the new Division One season off to a flyer with a 4-0 home win against Mill Hill St Peters.

Goals from Danny Swailes and Paul Hallows gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at half time before Matthew Chapman and Liam Carr completed the scoring in the second half – Chapman’s strike a fine volley over the Mill Hill keeper from the edge of the box.

It gave the new 31-year-old boss a first competitive win at the helm since taking over from Phil Roberts, who stepped down in the summer.

But he was quick to credit his players for their performance.

Pennington told The Bolton News: “I couldn’t have asked for better from the lads on Saturday.

“I was concerned in the morning as we had a few drop out with injuries picked up in last week’s friendly at Burscough.

“But we scored early when Danny Swailes headed home from a corner and that set us up nicely.

“Paul Hallows slotted home from another corner to give us a good cushion at half time and Matthew Chapman scored first after the break, racing on to a ball over the top to volley home.

“Liam Carr then headed home from a Chapman cross to round it off.

“The lads’ attitudes have been phenomenal since I took over.

“We have revamped training and the lads are enjoying it.

“There are a few out injured but we have signed some good players this summer and have almost 50 to pick from.”

The first-team role is a first job in senior management for Pennington who played for the club as well as spending four years with Tempest United.

He was promoted this summer after a successful spell with the CMB reserves last season.

Elsewhere in Division One, Stoneclough lost 6-1 at Milnthorpe Corinthians, while Eagley went down 4-2 at Kendal County – a John Stevenson penalty and Michael Boateng with their goals.

In the Premier Division, Dylan Winstanley and Kieron Sisson from the penalty spot netted for Turton but they lost 6-2 at Southport Hesketh.

Tempest United also lost on the road, going down 2-0 at Longridge Town.

But Ladybridge got their Division Two campaign off to a winning start with a 4-1 triumph at Furness Cavaliers.

Two goals apiece for Darren Smethurst and Chris Donohue saw them come from behind to win.

After last season’s relegation disappointment, it was a good start for boss Dean Walmsley.

He said: “It was a great start for us, although the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests.

“We went 1-0 down before Darren levelled on the stroke of half time.

“They got a rollicking at the break and came out to do a lot better.”