ATHERTON Collieries maintained their 100 per cent record with a 3-0 away victory over Chadderton which kept them in second place in the North West Counties League Division One.

Colls were made to work hard against an organised Chadderton side who had chances but could not prevent Michael Clegg’s side keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet in the league. They opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Mark Truffas’s deep free kick was headed into the top corner by Matty Boland.

The lead was doubled six minutes into the second half when Mark Batterbsy laid the ball off to Kristian Holt on the edge of the box and the attacking midfielder took one touch before slotting past the keeper.

Westley Bancroft came off the substitutes’ bench to make his debut and got the third with a sole run from the halfway line.

Atherton LR drew 1-1 at home to Irlam, Thomas Darby equalising seven minutes after the visitors’ 14th-minute opener.

LR remain seventh ahead of next weekend's League Challenge Cup tie against local rivals Daisy Hill.