By Joseph Gibbons

THE fourth edition of The Flatcap Derby ended in disappointment as Atherton Colls and Atherton LR served up a 0-0 stalemate today.

Neither side wanted to lose the match and this told with both defences being on top.

The winner of the man-of-the-match flatcap was Colls centre-half Chris Lawton who had a fine game.

Both Colls keeper Phil Priestley and his opposite number Josh Harris only had to make one save each, with both sides squandering limited opportunities in front of goal.

Harris parried when Colls’ Jake Patton fired from long range before Priestley also pulled off an equally fine save for the home side.

A crowd of 240 was in attendance, the biggest recorded since the Flatcap Derby term was coined.

The draw leaves Colls in fifth place in North West Counties League Division One – one place above LR but eight points better off having played a game less. On Saturday, LR recorded a 3-1 victory over Holker Old Boys at Crilly Park but were dealt a blow when Matty Boland sustained a serious injury.

All three of LR’s goals came from the spot as Michael Clegg’s side made it three consecutive wins.

Ben Hardcastle scored the first penalty after just two minutes, before Jordan Cover doubled the home side’s advantage on 14 minutes from the spot.

A third spot kick was converted by Harcastle on 28 minutes before Holker scored a late consolation.

Substitute Boland was being rested ahead of the Atherton derby and came on midway through the second half.

Within a couple of minutes, however, he was taken off after rupturing ligaments in his knee.

Elsewhere, Daisy Hill sank to the bottom of the table when they lost 4-0 at Widnes Vikings.