LYMM coach Adam Fletcher will not be too downhearted about faltering first-team performances.

Saturday’s 29-10 home loss to Billingham followed defeat at Kendal and sent them sliding from third to eighth in National League Three North.

A growing list of injured players, and some in key positions needing niggles protected ahead of the winter months, along with those off to university has severely tested the club’s strength in depth, with a knock-on effect impacting on the second and third teams.

Many players have had to play out of position at times, while young squad members have been given the chance of first-team outings.

No first-team match this Saturday will give time for some players to recover from knocks and minor injuries ahead of the trip to Hull on Saturday, October 22.

Taking centre stage this weekend will be the seconds at Fylde, the thirds at Penrith and the fourths at home to Ellesmere Port’s seconds.

Against Billingham, the first 10 minutes were even but the Lymm defence started to look a little leaky as a number of first-up tackles were missed.

Billingham took a 17-0 lead through simple, quick, well executed rugby, while Lymm struggled to gain or retain possession.

Lymm started the second half brightly but again were guilty of overplaying.

A penalty got them on the score board but a further converted try was conceded.

Some controlled phases eventually led Tom Bray to put Jake Ashall over, with Nolan converting.

Lymm were still looking to get something out of the game but after Sam Mullarkey was yellow carded for taking a man out in the air Billingham capitalised on the man advantage with a final try.

Lymm: Mike Auden, Ross White, Jordan Widdrington, Will Baldwin, Matty Connolly, Sam Mullarkey, Adam Bray, Oli Higginson, Tom Baker, Tom Bray, Cormac Nolan, Michael Floyd, Harry Reddick, Chris Owens, Joe Knowles. Replacements: Jake Ashall, Joe Denman, Oscar McCormack.

Meanwhile, Lymm RFC will host the North of England Under 18s County Festival on Sunday, October 30.

The fixtures will be Lancashire v Cheshire, 11am; Durham v Cumbria, 12.45pm; Northumberland v Yorkshire, 2.30pm. Lymm hope to represented in the Cheshire squad.