ATHERTON Town kicked off the New Year with their best performance in more than three decades, according to manager Shaun Lynch, as they won 6-1 at the Premier Division’s second-placed side Wythenshawe Amateurs.

A hat-trick from Gary Shaw and brace from strike partner Nick Eastham laid the foundations for the stunning victory before substitute Yanick Omari stole the show with barnstorming sixth goal at the death.

“We must have had the ball for about two or three minutes, playing it around the park before a couple of one-twos on the edge of the box between Mark Prince and Lewis Walsh set Yanick up for a left-foot volley from the egde of the box.

“It was one of those where you could not help applaud – even the Wythenshawe bench were on their feet.

“People have asked me what happened, and I have to say I don’t know. It’s not as if Wythenshawe had a man sent off or anything, we just absolutely battered them for start to finish.

“I have been at the club for 30 years and I can’t think of a better performance than that.”

Shaw netted twice to put Atherton 2-0 up before the break and sealed his hat-trick in the second half either side of goals from strike partner Eastham.

Wythenshawe then pulled back a consolation before Omari’s grandstand finish in the 90th minute.

Atherton’s fourth win of the campaign consolidated their position in 13th, opening up a seven-point gap over the bottom three.

“A lot of the credit for this win has to go to new coach Barry Atkins, who took the team on the day,” added Lynch.

“Other than that I can’t really explain it. We haven’t done anything for the last three weeks – maybe the answer is not to train, just stuff our faces with turkey!”

Hindsford got back to winning ways following an enforced break, with Sam Valentine scoring twice and Jack Valentine and Grant Willetts grabbing a goal apiece in a 4-0 win against Royton Town.

Barry Massey’s side remain in seventh place, eight points off top spot but with three games in hand.

The New Year got off to a disappointing start for local sides in Division One, with Leigh Athletic’s game at Hollinwood postponed, Pennington going down 3-0 at home to third-placed Boothstown and Breightmet United losing 3-2 on a sodden pitch at leaders Uppermill.

Kyle Bailey opened the scoring in the first half for Breightmet, but manager Simon Wilcox said his side let in three sloppy goals after that before Dean Banks netted a late consolation.

The result left them in sixth place, three points adrift of the promotion places having played four more games than most of their rivals.