Atherton Collieries progressed to the semi-finals of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy with a 6-0 triumph over West Didsbury & Chorlton on Tuesday.

Brad Cooke’s side went into the game looking to avenge last season’s bruising 2-0 semi-final exit at the hands of the hosts and did so in resounding fashion, netting six goals for the first time since 2019.

Jay Fitzmartin, Ben Hardcastle, Joel Amado, Marcus Cusani, Scott Bakkor and Jesse Ebosele all got on the scoresheet, as the Colls ran riot at Brookburn Road.

Colls shuffled the pack for the midweek cup tie with Bakkor, Danny Lafferty and Arran Pettifer all rested and Jack Lenehan, Cusani and Adam Rooney returning to the side.

Eighteen-year-old Owen Mooney also enjoyed an assured debut between the sticks, having been drafted in on a short-term loan from Wigan to cover the injured Nico Defreitas-Hansen.

It was Fitzmartin who scored the opener after just 12 minutes, latching on to Ethan Kershaw’s pass and finishing into the far corner with aplomb.

The lead was doubled within a minute, Hardcastle seizing on Andrew Jones’ weak clearance and finding the corner for his first goal since returning to the club earlier in the month.

That would be how it stayed until the second-half, Pettifer and Bakkor entering the fray as Colls looked to pick off a tiring West Didsbury side.

Amado eventually put the game beyond doubt, rising well to meet Fitzmartin’s corner and nod a looping header into the back of the net.

Fitzmartin created another moments later, his pinpoint free-kick converted by Cusani at the near post to make it four.

Colls were not done there, however, Bakkor scoring the pick of the bunch with an audacious lob from distance after a mix-up between goalkeeper and defenders.

Jones denied Kershaw a goal with a smart save late on, but moments later could only parry an effort into the path of Ebosele, the young striker slotting home his first Colls goal to round-off an impressive victory.

While a semi-final awaits, Colls’ focus returns to league action this Saturday as they face NPL Premier Division title favourites, South Shields, at the Skuna Stadium (3pm).