ATHERTON Collieries marked their FA Trophy debut with a resounding 4-1 victory at Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday.

It was expected to be a tough test in the Sheffield suburbs for Colls against a free-scoring side sitting third in Evo-Stik South.

The visitors, meanwhile, had registered just one win in eight outings ahead of the game and were outsiders to progress.

There were selection posers for boss Michael Clegg, too, with Jamie Forbes unavailable so Chris Lynch slotted in at centre-half with Brad Cooke moving to right-back.

Josh Messer, Kristy Holt, Jordan Cover and Darrhyl Mason also returned to the starting line-up. 

The game started cagily with the teams evenly matched.

Cover had a couple of half-chances before Colls took the lead on 19 minutes.

Gareth Peet was upended out wide and Iain Howard floated in the free kick which Holt stooped to nod in from a few yards out – Colls' first headed goal of the campaign.

On the half-hour mark a dangerous Steels free kick narrowly cleared Adam Reid's bar and five minutes later Colls fortuitously doubled their advantage.

Cover played Mason through but defender Liam McFadyen got there first. Unfortunately for him his attempted clearance rolled straight past his own keeper and into the net.

Colls had to be happy with their first-half display, the only downside was losing Messer to injury and Danny Lambert replaced him for the second half.

Steels had been blunted in the opening period and they restarted the game with a lot more purpose.

Reid had been anonymous in the game but between the 60 and 65th minutes he was forced into three saves to stop the home team mounting a comeback.

Firstly, he strong-armed a 20-yard free kick to safety then saved from point-blank range following a goalmouth melee before stopping a low drive from distance.

It was a virtuoso spell from the Colls number one and kept his side in the driving seat.

With 20 minutes remaining, Ash Woods and Ben Hardcastle replaced the hard-working Holt and Mason and Colls stepped up a gear.

Iain Howard made it 3-0 on 82 minutes after Peet set up Hardcastle who in turn passed to Howard for a simple finish at the back post.

It was just reward for the playmaker who had made his team tick all afternoon.

Then, in the 94th minute, Hardcastle shot under the keeper to make it four.

There was still time for Luke Mangan to score a consolation goal for the hosts but it was Colls celebrating at the final whistle.

The 4-1 result probably flattered Clegg's men slightly but they belied their underdog status and unequivocally deserved to qualify for the next round.

They will visit Kendal Town next in a tie to be played on Saturday, October 28.

Before that, on Saturday, Colls return to the bread and butter of Evo Stik North with a short trip to Clitheroe.