Vodkat League round-up
6:10am Monday 22nd March 2010 in Sport By Gordon Sharrock
FOOTBALL: Atherton Collieries climbed to fifth in the Vodkat NW Counties First Division when they completed a league double over Cheadle Town with a 4-1 victory at Alder House.
It was a seventh win in 10 games for Steve Pilling’s side, who took control of the game after a scoreless first half but needed two late goals to secure the three points, despite the visitors being down to eight men.
Daniel Hitchen and Paul Atherton combined for Paul Shanley to put Colls in front on 55 minutes and things went from bad to worse for Cheadle on 69 minutes when a goalmouth fracas resulted in three players — including their goalkeeper — being sent off.
When Atherton converted the resulting penalty it looked a cakewalk for the Alder House men. But Town rallied and John Hussain pulled a goal back in the 89th minute to set up a tense finale.
Colls kept their nerve though and Paul Hynes and Jonathan Bridge scored in injury time to bank the points.
Daisy Hill lost a game they won back in September when they went down 3-0 at home to AFC Liverpool.
Craig Thomas’s side won the original fixture 5-4 but a replay was ordered after they were found to have fielded an ineligible player.
Home keeper Adam Thomas impressed in a scoreless first half but three goals in 17 minutes — the first from Tod Bamber and two from Karl Gornall — secured the win for the Merseysiders.
Daisy Hill face another tough test tomorrow night when second-placed Stone Dominoes visit New Sirs. Atherton LR remain second bottom of the Premier Division after a 5-3 defeat at Padiham, but there were encouraging signs from the new-look Crilly Park side.
Manager Dave Hughes fielded four new signings — former Rovers favourite Paul Crewe returning from Runcorn and fellow striker Ged Courtney from Caernarfon Town, plus goalkeeper Ryan McMahon and winger Leon Quarless who arrived on loan from Skelmersdale United. And, although they could not prevent LR slipping to another defeat, the performance was full of promise.
Damien Morrison put Padiham in front after just five minutes but LR were level through an own goal on 12 minutes and got themselves in front when Courtney finished confidently for a debut goal.
The lead lasted just a minute, though, with Robbie Smith equalising before Nehru McKenzie put the home side back in front five minutes before the break.
Robert Grimes (55 mins) and Chris Ridehalgh (85 mins) took advantage of slack defending to stretch Padiham’s lead before the skilful Quarless set up Ashford Blake for a late consolation for the Atherton side, who are at home to Runcorn Linnets tomorrow night.
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