ATHERTON Collieries were defeated in a penalty shootout at Pontefract Collieries in the inaugural Colliery Cup.

The two teams, who rounded off their pre-season programmes on Saturday, were formed fundamentally for the recreation of pitmen so it was decided the victors would pick up the Colliery Cup.

Ponte won the Northern Counties East League last season and will be plying their trade in the Evo-Stik East Division this term.

Their pre-season form had been stellar, and included a 7-1 mauling of Ramsbottom United raising more than the odd eyebrow in the non-league fraternity.

Mike Clegg’s Black and Whites went into the game off the back of a good 1-1 draw with Witton Albion and another competitive game was expected.

The first half started cagily but as it progressed the Lancashire side started to exert pressure.

Tom Bentham had a header tipped over the bar and Danny Lambert’s dead-ball strike was momentarily spilled by the goalkeeper.

In between these efforts Tom Dugdale hit the side-netting for the hosts.

Just after the half-hour mark Atherton’s Gareth Peet got his name on the scoresheet with a free kick, which looped over the wall and was just too hot for the keeper to handle.

Minutes before the half-time whistle Ponte were reduced to 10 men when the referee took offence at something a Ponte player had said to him.

Clegg’s side continued to dictate the game after the interval and from a sublime Ben Conway cross Bentham had a header tipped onto the bar.

But with 20 minutes remaining Ponte equalised. The ball came in from the right and Eli Hey volleyed a superb effort which Greg Hartley did not have a prayer of saving.

Within minutes Hartley had to be at his imperious best to parry a speculative Hey effort away from the top right-hand corner of his goal to keep his Colls side level.

The visitors regrouped and had chances to win it but James Sigsworth shot into the side-netting and an off-balance Ian Rowlands headed over a Devon Golden centre.

With time expired it was down to a penalty shootout to see which side would be the trophy’s first holders.

Both teams started inauspiciously with the keepers taking it in turns to save the opening four kicks, Adam Farrell and Dave Sherlock missing for Atherton.

The hosts then scored and Bentham levelled things.

Ponte bagged their fourth penalty before Gareth Peet had his attempt saved by home stopper Ryan Musselwhite.

A fine fifth penalty then saw the Yorkshire side take the cup.

It may have been a friendly but it had also been an ultra-competitive workout for both teams.

Full credit goes to Ponte for their spirited comeback, particularly given their numerical disadvantage.

They will certainly ruffle the odd feather in their debut Evo-Stik season.

All roads now lead to Glossop North End on Saturday for Colls and the start of the Evo-Stik West Division campaign.

Kick off is 3pm.

On Monday night comes Colls’ first home match of the league season, when Colwyn Bay visit the Kensite Stadium, kick off 7.45pm.

n In the Hallmark Security League First Division North Atherton LR came away from AFC Blackpool empty-handed after they conceded the only goal of the game 20 minutes from time.

Rovers are still in search of their first goal and first point three games into the new campaign.

In the West Lancashire League Premier Division, there were 3-2 away wins for Tempest United and Turton. Tempest had trailed at Thornton Cleveleys at half time but with Nathan Monson, Kurtis Farlo and Pete Lancaster scoring they ran out 3-2 winners.

Turton needed an 87th-minute winner from Daniel Locke as they beat their hosts, Blackpool Wren Rovers. Locke added to earlier goals by Dylan Winstanley and Tom Atkinson as time ran out to seal the points for the Tigers.

In Division One there were wins for Eagley, with Zac Clarke scoring twice in a 4-1 success at home to Lostock St Gerards, and Stoneclough.

Mark Taff and Kamil Demister were the scorers in their 2-1 victory over Lytham Town.

Meanwhile, CMB went down 3-1 at home to Hawcoat Park.

League newcomers Horwich St Mary’s Victoria were denied all three points in a 1-1 draw at Walney Island.

The former Lancashire Amateur League side led through Sam Parkinson’s first-half penalty but the hosts levelled with five minutes to play.

Bolton County got their Manchester League Premier Division campaign off to a losing start as they were defeated 2-1 at Old Altrinchamians.

Perhaps the game of the day took place in Division One, as Bolton Lads and Girls Club beat Altrincham Hale 6-4.

Breightmet United’s Division Two game at Hollinwood was postponed.