Brad Cooke’s Atherton Collieries went into Saturday’s game at Ashton United with a spring in their step after victory against FC United in their previous outing.

But their bid to pick up two consecutive wins for the first time since September was fruitless in a 3-0 defeat at Ashton United.

Ahead of kick off, the weather was relentless and one questioned whether any football would be played at all. Credit to the army of Ashton United volunteers who put in a good team shift to ensure the game went ahead.

Collieries were the better side in the first 20 minutes. They looked cool in possession and attacked the rather unsteady-looking United defence numerous times.

Their best effort came on eight minutes. Jay Fitzmartin collected a ball forward, cut inside and curled an effort at goal. It looked another fine finish from the young forward, but it was not to be as the ball cannoned against the bar and to safety.

The Robins took the lead against the run of play. An enticing set-piece was sailed into the area by Nathan Lowe and Sean Newton expertly manoeuvred the ball into the far corner.

Colls did not sit back and Oli Brown led an attack three minutes later and forced a fine stop from Ashton’s Scott.

A flurry of United attacks came and went and the Colls were relieved to go in at half time with a solitary goal disadvantage - Mackenzie Chapman instrumental to this with some unbelievable stops.

Cooke had hoped a half-time get together would set the Colls straight. Imagine his disappointment, then, when Ashton doubled their lead just two minutes into the second half.

Chapman was again equal to the initial effort on goal. The parry, however, fell straight to the head of Jason Gilchrist who headed home with ease.

It was not to be Atherton’s afternoon, and that happens in football from time to time. This was further evidenced when the home side bagged their third thanks to a rare defensive error from the ever-reliable Colls defensive unit.

Luca Defreitas-Hansen, who has been heroic in every game he’s played this season, headed the ball back to Chapman. This header, however, was just short of the mark and was intercepted by Ashton’s Keilen Adams. The forward simply tapped around the panicked Chapman to score.

Late on, Adam Rooney had a power-blaster expertly repelled by Scott as the Stripes chased a consolation.

Grey skies and heavy rain echoed the disappointment of all in Colls colours on an afternoon in East Manchester that was not to be.

Cooke’s lads go again tomorrow night in a Lancashire Cup semi-final at the County Ground, Leyland, where they have an opportunity to avenge high-flying Bamber Bridge following a 2-0 setback just a few weeks ago.