A delighted manager Jim Nichols hailed the commitment of his Penrith players who ended their Northern League campaign with a win.

The Bonny Blues ended their league campaign with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland RCA on Tuesday after the extensive midweek trip.

Goals from top scorer Martyn Coleman and Mathew Read ensured Penrith ended their Northern League season on a high.

And Nichols was pleased with the win, particularly after a disappointing 4-1 home loss to Whitley Bay in their final fixture at Frenchfield Park last Saturday.

He said: “I think people don’t always see the commitment of the lads.

"They are getting in at 1.30 and 2 in the morning. I think midweek wins mean a lot at this level.”

And the Bonny Blues boss was pleased with the way his side reacted in their midweek away victory as they secured a 12th-placed league finish.

Nichols, however, did admit he felt that his team’s fixture congestion at the end of the season, with Penrith having played nine matches in April, had cost them a little bit towards the end of their campaign.

“I feel we maybe could have finished higher in the league,” he said. “The amount of games we played took it out of our players.

“Some of them were saying they were dead on their feet.”

Penrith’s players have a blank weekend, although they will be taking a light training session, ahead of next Wednesday’s Cumberland Cup Final against Workington Reds at Brunton Park.

Reds were knocked out of their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League play-off semi-final after extra-time at Stourbridge on Monday.

“I think, however they had gone into it, it was going to be tough. We know they are a really good side,” the Penrith manager said, looking ahead to the cup final.

“They don’t concede goals, really. [But] there is no pressure on us.”

Nichols added he has some injury concerns but will assess them closer the time of the match.