ATHERTON Collieries climbed to the top of the North West Counties League Division One table after winning 2-1 at Eccleshall on Saturday. Steve Pilling’s men opened up a two-point lead over Nelson in second place as they headed into last night’s game in hand over their rivals at home to Daisy Hill.

Colls had to ride their luck as Eccleshall hit the post in the opening exchanges while goalkeeper Joe Brobbin was forced to make a smart save.

They weathered that storm, however, and Charlie Stoker hit the side netting and Paul Atherton blasted over before the Alder House outfit eventually went in front on 38 minutes. It was Stoker who headed the Colls in front, converting a drilled cross from Mark Truffas.

Atherton failed to hang on to that lead though and looked to have dropped two valuable points when they conceded a deserved equaliser with nine minutes remaining.

But Kieran Halliwell calmly slotted home the winner from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Aaron Cringle had been upended in the box.

Elsewhere, Atherton LR lost on penalties at Formby in the First Division Challenge Cup.

Michael Clegg’s men battled hard to come back from 2-0 down to take the match into extra time.

Mini Adegbenro put the home side ahead in the first minute and Kurt Sherlock made it two against the run of play 10 minutes before the break.

But Rovers kept going and pulled a goal back through Ben Hardcastle before half time. The second half brought more of the same from the visitors as Hardcastle notched up his second, weaving through four defenders before placing the ball into the bottom corner for the equaliser on 69 minutes.

In the closing stages, LR centre-half Thomas Cahill was sent off for a poor challenge in the area that resulted in a penalty, but Mikey White blasted the spot-kick over.

Formby then had a goal rightly disallowed for offside in extra time as the match went to penalties, but LR’s luck ran out as the hosts won the deciding shootout 3-0.