Atherton Collieries fought back from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Gainsborough Trinity after an impressive performance in Lincolnshire.

Scott Bakkor’s header gave the visitors the lead in the first half, before a brace from former Bolton front man Clayton Donaldson either side of the break flipped the scoreline on it’s head.

Colls fought back and deserved their equaliser through Ethan Kershaw, with only missed chances on the day stopping them from taking all three points.

Colls made the NPL Premier trip to the The Northholme expecting a tough contest against an in-form Gainsborough side unbeaten in their last five.

Rob Sadler’s side set up to frustrate and hit on the break, an approach that paid dividends when Bakkor nodded home Clive Smith’s delivery on 15 minutes.

Gainsborough were handed a way back into the game, however, when Liam Waldock was brought down in the box with the referee pointed to the spot.

Experienced striker Donaldson stepped up and a converted the kick, despite Nico Defreitas-Hansen going the right way in the Colls goal.

The response from Colls was positive, with Marcus Cusani almost getting his side back in front moments later. Kershaw threaded a delightful through ball to the forward, but his effort was thwarted by Trinity keeper Matt Yates, who got down well to deny him.

Gainsborough had another chance of their own before the break, Donaldson going through on goal in search of a second, however a strong save from Nico Defreitas-Hansen ensured the scores remained level at half time.

Colls started the second half sluggishly and were punished after just three minutes when Donaldson got his head to the ball from Curtis Durose’s corner, the ball glancing off the post over and into the back of the net to give the hosts the lead.

Not deflated by falling behind, Colls pushed forward and were desperately unlucky not to score, Bakkor’s outside-of-the-foot strike parried into the path of Kershaw, whose follow-up struck a trailing boot on the goalline to prevent the stripes levelling.

At the other end, Jack Dyche went within inches of putting the game out of reach, sending an effort narrowly over for the bar before Kershaw was once again unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, his diving header skewing wide of the target.

The equaliser would eventually come on the hour mark, Smith once again the architect with a low-driven ball to the back post where Kershaw made no mistake, restoring parity for Colls.

It would prove to be the last significant action of the game as Colls sealed a deserved point.

The Black and White stripes visit Warrington Rylands tonight (7.45pm).