ATHERTON Town came from 2-0 down to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to AVRO in a topsy-turvy Premier Division clash.

But the Howe Bridge men were left feeling they could have had all three points after producing a stirring second-half fightback, having what would have been a winning goal disallowed for a marginal offside decision and a late chance cleared off the goal line.

Manager Shaun Lynch, who has boosted his backroom staff with the appointment of former club captain Barry Atkins as first-team coach, sparked the recovery with a triple substitution 20 minutes from time, sending on attacking players Lewis Welch, Nathan Sutherland and Jordan Smith coming on 20 minutes from time.

Smith won a penalty and Jack Marshall reduced the deficit from the spot-kick, and with the momentum in their favour, they equalised with a Luke Jones header.

Jones had the ball in the net again but the effort was disallowed and, with time running out, Gaz Shaw appeared to have won it on the break with a shot that beat the replacement 'keeper but was cleared off the line by a defender.

“We had a 17-year-old in goal and five other players under 19 because we had a few players missing,” Lynch said.

“But it was a real eye-opener for us, showing how well they could do. We came back strong and really could have won it.”

In Division One, Breightmet United also recovered from trailing 2-0 to draw 2-2 at home to Chadderton Reserves leaving manager Simon Wilcox to reflect on a horrendous first 10 minutes.

“”We deserved a win but that was the shakiest start we’ve ever had,” he said.

A goal down, things went from bad to worse for United when skipper Carl Bancks deflected a free kick into his own goal.

But 19-year-old Jordan Mulligan pulled one back with a superb free-kick on the half hour before Michael Locke headed the equaliser from a Kurt Farlow cross in a second half the Bolton side completely dominated.

“This time last year we’d have lost that gam,” Wilcox added.

Elsewhere, Danny Eaton, Scott Calland and Elliot Patrick were on target for Leigh Athletic in their 3-2 victory at Beechfield United.

Scott Calland put the Latics ahead on 20 minutes and Elliott Patrick restored the lead before half-time after United had pulled on back.

The home side levelled again after the break, but there was no stopping the visitors.