ATHERTON Collieries put in a blistering last half-hour display to blow away a talented Mossley outfit with a 6-2 victory.

After their unbeaten away league record had ended with a tepid 2-1 defeat at Colne a week earlier, Colls were out to make amends, and did so with an emphatic win.

The goal glut was under way on 11 minutes as Gareth Peet, playing a more forward role than usual, was upended in the box for a sure-fire penalty.

Mossley keeper Ben Purdham parried Jordan Cover’s lukewarm spot-kick but he could not stop the striker gobbling up the loose ball and scoring with the second attempt.

The sides settled into an entertaining game but with few clear-cut chances created.

The Lilywhites got back on level terms with less than 10 minutes of the first half remaining.

A low cross into the Atherton box evaded everybody but Dave Sherlock got tangled up with an attacker who went to ground to offer another easy decision for referee Dale Baines, and Max Leonard smashed an unstoppable spot-kick past the returning Greg Hartley.

Seconds before half time Colls almost regained the lead as Peet teed up Danny Lambert and his long-range exocet of a shot cannoned off the near post and out to safety.

Lambert got his just rewards within seconds of the restart. A delicious centre from Sherlock enabled the midfielder to ghost in at the far post and head home from close range.

Minutes later Sherlock’s already interesting afternoon got even more so.

Following an innocuous collision in the box he was adjudged to have been the perpetrator and after what seemed like an eternity the official once again pointed to the spot, much to the right back’s distress and sense of injustice.

Leonard kept his cool to send Hartley the wrong way to tie things up again at 2-2.

Colls then survived a calamitous defensive mix-up on the edge of their penalty area, the Mossley attacker somehow trickling his finish wide of the empty net.

This let-off focused Collieries and, following a couple of vociferous claims for penalties for handball they took the lead for a third time. Tom Bentham hit a rasping shot against the woodwork and Cover showed cat-like reflexes – and no little skill – to bury the rebound.

Bentham was then played through and he unerringly finished to make the score 4-2 to ease any fraying nerves.

With five minutes remaining Cover deservedly secured the match ball when he thundered home a low shot, completing his second successive home league hat-trick against the Lilywhites.

He left the field soon after to great acclaim from the crowd as Gary Burnett replaced him, his fellow goalscorer making a welcome return to action.

In injury time Atherton captain Danny Lafferty nodded in a Vinny Bailey corner to make it a round half-dozen.

Michael Clegg’s boys were thoroughly clinical in the last half hour of an excellent game.

The final score was somewhat harsh on the visitors who were unceremoniously made to pay for the spurned gilt-edged opportunity with the game evenly poised at 2-2.

Tomorrow night Colls are back on the road as they visit Hallmark Security League newcomers Garstang in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. Kick off is 7.45pm.