Whitby Town produced a pair of perfect free-kicks as Atherton Collieries were edged out 3-2 at the Skuna Stadium on Saturday.

Junior Mondal and Priestley Griffiths both scored show-stopping set-pieces, joined on the scoresheet by captain Daniel Rowe.

Jack Evans and Enock Lusiama then struck late on, as the home side threatened to mount the unlikeliest of comebacks.

The Colls went into the NPL Premier Division clash following an important win at Bradford (Park Avenue), and were looking to use that momentum to gain further ground on those above the drop zone.

But it was Whitby who made much of the early running, and that pressure eventually told when centre-back Rowe headed home to give his side the lead.

That advantage was doubled just before half time through Mondal’s spectacular free-kick, which bent beautifully out of the sizeable reach of Colls’ debutant keeper Joe O’Shaughnessy.

O’Shaughnessy would produce a great save to prevent further damage shortly after the break, tipping Jacob Gratton’s effort over the bar.

But that relief would prove temporary as Whitby made it three, with Griffiths this time curling one in from just outside the area.

At this stage, travelling supporters could have been forgiven for beginning to relax, but nervy moments would remain, as Evans and then Lusiama turned home at the end of a pair of goalmouth scrambles.

The remaining seconds were played out without further goals as Whitby held on for the win.

Collieries will be looking to bounce back at home against Marine tomorrow night (7.45pm).