ATHERTON Collieries got the better of long-standing rivals Runcorn Linnets, spurning several chances but running out 3-2 winners.

It was the Black and Whites’ fourth straight league win and leaves them in third place, just a point behind Evo-Stik West leaders Radcliffe.

The first half ended goalless despite chances at both ends, with every black and white attack matched by one in green and yellow.

The first chance of note saw Jordan Cover round Linnets’ stopper Dylan Forth but Aaron Morris successfully tracked back to clear.

Linnets survived another scare when Ben Conway broke down the left for Colls, beating defender Michael Simpson before sending a perfect cross to the far post, only for Cover’s shot to again be blocked in the goalmouth, Forth ensuring his side ended an entertaining half on level terms.

For all the defences’ resistance, though, three goals arrived in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Colls midfielder Vinny Bailey fired in the opener from 12 yards following some great wide play by Ben Hardcastle to create the chance.

Within six minutes, the visitors had equalised. Despite being crowded by three Colls players, Freddie Potter managed to fire a low, testing effort at Collieries’ keeper Dale Latham, who was unfortunate to be beaten by a late bobble as the ball found the bottom left corner of his goal.

Moments later, Colls regained the lead. Recycling a cleared corner, Ben Conway’s perfect cross found Matt Grimshaw, who beat his marker to head home with ease.

Key chances for the Atherton side to kill the game off came and went. Hardcastle was quick to intercept a misplaced pass and got a shot away following some quick interplay.

Michael Simpson cleared that effort for a corner, from which Dave Sherlock was unlucky not to convert a Conway header.

Shortly afterwards Cover tapped wide following a quick Hardcastle break.

The next opportunity to kill the game came via an overzealous challenge by Yellows’ defender Aaron Morris, bringing down Hardcastle in the box eight minutes from time.

But Hardcastle could not convert the resulting penalty, with the excellent Forth saving his powerful effort to keep Linnets in the game.

Within seconds, Hardcastle made up for the miss with an assist for the vital third goal, putting Colls on the front foot once again.

His shot was saved by Forth, only for Danny Lambert to produce a wonderful header to loop the ball into the goal from the rebound, making the score 3-1 with five minutes to play.

There was still enough time for a late Runcorn resurgence to cause a few nerves. Substitute Connor McCarthy fired home an incredible goal from 25 yards, finding the top corner with an unstoppable shot.

With new-found impetus and momentum, the Linnets forced a late sequence of corners and sent numerous long throws into the box as they searched for an equaliser, but the hosts’ defence held strong to see out their 3-2 win.

The scoreline could have been more emphatic but Michael Clegg’s side were worthy winners ahead of welcoming Runcorn again on Saturday for their FA Trophy tie.

Colls are in Lancashire Challenge Trophy action tonight, with a fixture at Nelson where kick off is 7.45pm.

In the Hallmark Security League North Division, Atherton LR got their first win of the season, beating hosts Garstang 4-2.

Henoc Mukendi opened the scoring for the visitors but Garstang’s Alan Coar levelled midway through the first half.

Gary Burnett restored LR’s lead early in the second half and Martyn Parkinson made it 3-1. Coar scored again to bring Garstang back into the game but Burnett sealed victory with his second goal on the hour mark.

Daisy Hill’s search for their first league win goes on after they were beaten 4-1 at home to Ashton Town.

Daisy were three goals behind when Nick Hepple scored with 15 minutes remaining, but they conceded a fourth as time ran out.