DECIMATED by injuries, CMB did not have the firepower to beat Fulwood Amateurs and secure a place in the semi-finals of the Lancashire FA Shield.

CMB manager Rob Pennington says he has had a catalogue of injuries to contend with this season but Saturday's 4-1 defeat saw his team take to the field without at least half-a-dozen forwards.

After threatening early on the Chew Moor team – fifth in Division One – fell to defeat to the side fifth in the Premier Division, leaving Pennington rueing their absences.

"Fulwood are a very good team, I can't pretend otherwise," he said. "We had our chances and could have been 2-0 up by the half-hour mark but they are a team trying to win the Premier and they're a very good footballing side.

"The referee was diabolical but he was dreadful for both teams so we won't use that as an excuse, they deserved to win and it's one of those things, maybe it will benefit us in the long run but it's a shame our big games have come when we've been so depleted."

Frustratingly for Pennington, CMB should have several more players available this weekend when they take on Hurst Green, but their Shield exit came with leading scorer Matty Chapman – who suffered a fractured tibia when he collided with a goalpost – Liam Carr, Ben Thornton, Jamie Hilton, Callum Yearsley, Tom Healey and Chad Rothwell all missing. Pennington hopes Thornton – who had surgery on a dislocated shoulder in the summer – and Hilton who is returning from a broken ankle will play in the reserve team's midweek match.

Their new recruit, former Bury hitman Andy Bishop, has returned from holiday and should be ready to play but captain Will Archer is a doubt with infected blisters.

"It's unbelievable the amount of bad luck we've had and that all this week's injuries were up front," griped Pennington. "Most weeks I have to text about 15 lads to say 'sorry you're not playing this week' but we struggled to fill both teams at the weekend and the firsts finished the game with 10 men.

"I'm sure three weeks down the line I'll have a very different problem when everyone's back and wanting to play.

"Andy [Bishop] lives nearby and just wants to go out and play for fun, his CV is unrivalled. Someone with his knowledge and experience can only mean good things for us, hopefully we will reap the benefits."

In league action, Tempest United looked to have dropped two points at home to Whitehaven when they were pegged back to 2-2 by an 85th-minute goal for the visitors. But Sam Parkinson popped up with the winning goal three minutes later to keep Tempest hot on the heels of third-placed Euxton Villa.

After a miserable October, Stoneclough made it two wins from two this month with a 1-0 victory at home to Crooklands Casuals.

In Division Two, Ladybridge maintained their five-point lead at the top with a 5-1 win at home to Furness Cavaliers.

n In the Hallmark Security League First Division Atherton LR salvaged a point at Litherland REMYCA. After David Moore had opened the scoring in the first half LR trailed 3-1 with 20 minutes to go Nathan Strong gave his side hope in the 81st minute and Christian Grundy made it 3-3 with a minute left on the clock.

A bad day for Daisy Hill saw them defeated 5-1 at First Division Silsden.

In the Manchester League there were also defeats for Bolton County, 5-2 at Heyside in the Premier Division, and Breightmet United, who were beaten 6-0 at home to Heywood St James.