Atherton LR won 2-0 at Ashton Athletic in NWCFL First Division North on Tuesday night to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Neither team began with much momentum, but Ashton was the loudest as a battlefield of a midfield allowed them to create space around the box to get a shot away, but it was eventually cleared by the LR defence.

Coming up to half time, with LR settling further into the game, former Yellows forward, Tom Romano, was held under pressure outside the box but a second of hesitation by the Athletic defenders allowed him to slide a through ball to Kyle Robinson-Murray at the edge of the box to allow him to cut inside and slot it past the keeper. It was his second goal in as many games.

The visitors seemed to ease off slightly after the break, but, frustratingly for Ashton, the ball just never did what they wanted along with many frustrating decisions from the referee for the home side.

In the closing 20 minutes, LR found themselves with a corner which was swung in by Robinson-Murray and met the head of Lance Houghton who doubled the lead, much to the jubilation of the away fans whose brilliant noise had played a big part in earning the win.

Man-of-the-match, Kyle Robinson-Murray, described his performance as “good” adding: “It was a good team effort tonight.”

He credited the fans as well, saying: “They pulled us over the line, we really needed them tonight and they delivered.”

A trip to Euxton Villa is up next for LR this weekend and Robinson-Murray continued: “It will be difficult, they’re a very strong side and with the new 3G pitch, it will be something we have to adapt to.

“But I’m confident the lads will turn up and try to take all the points available.”