Atherton Colls made to wait for FA Trophy clash – Non-league latest

There’s also a free weekend for Atherton LR while Daisy Hill will be looking to get off the mark.

It’s all in our non-league round-up below.

COLLS IMPRESS…BUT HAVE TO WAIT FOR FA TROPHY TIE

Atherton Collieries returned to winning ways in style as they picked up a valuable three points courtesy of  a 3-0 victory at Stafford Rangers on Tuesday night.

First-half goals from Dylan Glass and Elliot Rokka were added to by a second-half Rick Smith header to seal the win for Colls, their third in the last five games.

Currently sitting seventh in the Pitching In Northern Premier League and having made a strong start to the campaign, Colls assistant manager Rob Sadler spoke post-match about his satisfaction with the team’s progression.

 “We’ve now won two away games already this season including tonight’s midweek win,” he said.

“Last season, we didn’t win a midweek game away from home all year so that in itself is progression for the group and that’s what we’re looking for.

“All that we can ask of the players is to keep improving week by week, keep working hard and from that, the rest will follow.”

Colls were due to return to action tomorrow in the FA Trophy, but their third qualifying round tie with City of Liverpool at the Skuna Stadium will now be played on Wednesday, November 4, after a positive test in the visitors’ camp. 

The competition last season brought a tie against now Wanderers manager Ian Evatt during his spell in charge of Barrow.

Cooke’s team came close to beating Evatt’s Barrow side at the Skuna Stadium but were held to a draw and then ultimately defeated in the replay.

BORO SET FOR BAMBER BRIDGE TEST

RADCLIFFE boss Lee Fowler admits he has a welcome selection headache for tomorrow’s FA Trophy clash with Bamber Bridge.

Boro twice came from behind to draw 3-3 with Whitby on Tuesday which followed a dominant performance to grab all three points against Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday.

Despite admitting he got his selection slightly wrong against Whitby, he was glad that his side managed to grab a point after a good performance – with Kole Hall coming in off the bench to bag a second half brace.

“I should have changed the team around,” Fowler admitted. “I was too loyal to the people of Saturday who did well, I should have utilised the squad a bit more and got a little more energy in there.

“The subs have all come on and played well.

“I have to now watch Bamber Bridge, we know what they are about, they are a good footballing side but ultimately I have to pick a team that wins a game of football.”

DAISY HOPING FOR LIFT-OFF

Daisy Hill continue their search for their first league points of the season in the North West Counties League First Division North when they travel up to face Nelson tomorrow.

The East Lancashire side have had a troubled start to the season themselves, losing four of their five opening games and conceding 20 goals in the process, five of those coming in a 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Lower Breck on Wednesday evening.

The two teams have already faced one another this month, although on that occasion the game at New Sirs lasted only 64 minutes before being abandoned, after torrential rain made conditions dangerous.

However, Daisy Hill manager Brian Hart was pleased by his team’s display before the game against Nelson was ended prematurely, and after a promising performance in defeat at Ashton Town last weekend, he says he is hoping that his squad can build on the positive performances.

“We started brightly against Nelson on the night, and the players moved the ball quickly, with the ball zipping on the wet surface,” Hart said.

“We scored a good goal too, a great finish by Connor Hughes, that’s what we brought him in for.

“At Ashton we had a few heavy legs out there with a couple of players coming back from injury, but overall, I thought we played well and we’ve just got to be a bit more clinical.

“Once players settle in a bit and know when to pass the ball at the right times, we will get better.”

LR’S FRUSTRATION CONTINUES

Elsewhere in the First Division North, Atherton LR are again without a game due to AFC Liverpool’s FA Vase commitments.

Having seen Tuesday night’s game at Holker Old Boys also called off, Mark Robinson’s men have played just twice this season in losing efforts against Golcar United and Chadderton.

Last Saturday’s meeting with St Helens Town at Crilly Park was abandoned after 50 minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.

AFC ALSO TWIDDLING THEIR THUMBS

Bury AFC are also not in action this weekend but did at least win 5-1 at Garstang on Wednesday night, a Tom Greaves hat-trick taking him to 10 goals in just four appearances for the club.

Scott Metcalfe and Liam MacDevitt were also on target in the first period before Greaves did the damage after the break.

“The work ethic, the work rate, just the mindset and mentality was great,” said boss Andy Welsh.

“It’s a tough place to come and credit to them, I thought they set up well and had a gameplan with certain players in certain areas that we had to deal with.

“I felt we dealt with it comfortably at times.”