KIDSGROVE ATHLETIC 0 ATHERTON COLLIERIES 1

By Ian Cooper

KIDSGROVE Athletic tasted defeat for the first time the season with defeat to Atherton Collieries.

In a first half of few opportunities for either side, Kidsgrove’s Jack Twyford came close with two good efforts that forced saves out of Dale Latham in the Atherton net to keep the game level.

But following the restart the Colls were the much-improved side and they netted the decider on 66 minutes when Connor Gaul directed Ben Hardcastle’s dink into the net from six yards out to throw the cat among the pigeons.

As Kidsgrove pushed for the equaliser, Atherton held on with resolute defending to secure a fourth win of the campaign.