ATHERTON Collieries missed a chance to go level at the top of the North West Counties League Division One on Saturday when they surrendered a two-goal lead at home to Hanley Town.

But club secretary Emil Anderson admitted a 2-2 draw was a fair result after Colls conceded from two corners either side of half time.

Paul Prescott opened the scoring for the home side on nine minutes and Gareth Peet doubled the advantage on 41 minutes.

But Michael Morton got one back a minute before the break and Joel Stair made it two apiece four minutes after the restart.

Anderson said: “Both their goals came from corners and we have not defended them well but they are unbeaten despite being new to the league and it was a fair result on the whole despite the disappointment of losing a two-goal lead.”

Nine-man Daisy Hill missed the chance to remain top with a 4-1 defeat at Holker Old Boys.

Nathan Reid gave the hosts the lead on 11 minutes, but midway through the half, Andrew Buckley equalised for Daisy Hill.

Buckley was red carded for retaliation on the hour mark and Craig Farnworth was also dismissed late on. Before that, though, the game drifted away from Daisy inside four minutes.

Reid scored his second for Holker on 44 minutes and Brad Hubbold made it 3-1 on the stroke of half time.

Three minutes after the restart, Jamie Pattinson netted a fourth to consign Daisy, who host Oldham Borough tonight, to a third defeat of the season. Atherton LR also lost on the road, 3-2 at Chadderton in a game packed with late drama.

The home side coasted into a two-goal lead by half time, thanks to a brace from Matthew Russell on 19 and 34 minutes – his second from the penalty spot.

But in the final 10 minutes Gino Pulvino gave LR hope. Clive Best restored Chadderton’s two-goal cushion on 87 minutes and, despite a Vinny Mukendj strike at the death, the visitors could not level.