The stakes couldn’t be higher - and Town’s players have the chance to write their names into club history if they succeed in keeping the club in the First Division on April 17.

It would mean Saturday’s heavy defeat in Cumbria is unlikely to dwell in the memory and we can safely forget an afternoon when manager Colin Myers’ best-laid plans were wrecked by circumstances beyond his control.

Within the space of the first 44 minutes, Northallerton lost three players to injury and were forced into a hasty reorganisation that unbalanced the team. Off went defenders Harvey Rudd and Tom Myers with midfielder Jack Wilson, their replacements filling in as best they could.

Centre-forward Harry Croft came on to play centre-back and Jack Stapley entered as Town’s second emergency right-back, replacing fellow substitute Wilson before half-time after he also succumbed to injury.

That gave Penrith all the encouragement they needed, and with ‘keeper Jacob Crowle critically exposed the Bonny Blues did not have to work hard for their goals. Kevin McKenna (36 mins), Connor Shields (30 mins), Matthew Williamson (32 mins) and Connor Hammell (38 mins) made sure of the points and half-time couldn’t come quickly enough for battered Northallerton.

The second half became a matter of restoring pride, and performance levels certainly lifted. The highlight was their consolation goal scored by fourth and final substitute Alistair Banks – a spectacular bicycle kick that is a contender for Town goal of the season.

The strike also puts him on double figures for the season, with 10 goals in all competitions.

Credit must go to Crowle who produced a series of fine saves to prevent Penrith from causing further damage, earning him the well-deserved Man of the Match award.

Boss Myers has a growing injury list to grapple with ahead of Tuesday’s visit of mid-table Birtley. A hobbling Bailey Prudhoe may well have been another injury withdrawal late in the game had there been anyone left on the bench to replace him.

With West Allotment resigning from the Ebac Northern League at the weekend, it leaves the remaining teams fighting relegation in uncertain territory. But more than ever, Northallerton have to make their last six league games count.

Penrith: Boyd, Hebson (Ivison 62), Bell, McKenna, Story, Moynan, Makar (Trotter 63), Brown, Shields (Jolly 68), Hammell (Gosney 71), Williamson (Beckett 68).

Northallerton Town: Crowle, Rudd (Jack Wilson 11 (Stapley 33)), Grundle, Jacob Wilson, Myers (Croft 44), Sartini, Spears, Raitt, Shodeinde, Prudhoe, Short (Banks 55).

Att: 112.

Man of the Match: Jacob Crowle.