COLLS WIN TO CLOSE THE GAP
ATHERTON remain second in the Northern Premier League Division One West after picking up a comprehensive 4-0 win over lowly Kendal Town.
Atherton opened the scoring after five minutes when Thomas Bentham crossed the ball back to Ben Hardcastle, who placed the ball in the net.
Kendal struggled to create chances, with Brad Carroll forcing a comfortable save out of the Atherton keeper.
The Collieries created a lot of opportunities, with Bentham seeing his effort cleared off the line.
However, Atherton made it 2-0 two minutes before half-time after Vincent Bailey drilled the ball across the keeper and into the bottom left.
Atherton looked the more dangerous after the restart when Josh Messer forced Kendal keeper Stuart Dixon into action while Hardcastle forced an acrobatic save out of Dixon.
Atherton sealed the game on 80 minutes when Jordan Cover scored before the visitors slotted their fourth from the penalty spot in injury time as Danny Penswick was sent off.
Connor Gaul stepped up and placed the ball into the bottom right to seal a comfortable win. Meanwhile,
Chasetown's search for a home league win continues as they squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Skelmersdale United.
Chasetown had the best of the opening twenty minutes, and almost took the lead when Matty Hardiman headed just wide of the upright.
The hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Will Whieldon’s corner was bulleted home by the head of Ryan Wynter.
The Scholars should have made it two when Jon Beaumont received the ball from Jack Langston and slid the ball agonisingly wide of the upright.
Whieldon turned provider for Hardiman at the start of the second half but Smith made a superb save with his legs.
The home side doubled their lead when substitute Muzzy Nduna beat his man and delivered a pinpoint cross onto the head of Hardiman who made no mistake from six yards.
But the visitors pulled one straight back as the Scholars waited for a flag that never came and Sean Yeldrem swept the ball past Curtis Pond.
Hardiman almost restored the two-goal advantage before United broke quickly and levelled at 2-2 with a shot from William Dunne that deflected past Pond.
The home side pushed for a winner with Langston a whisker wide of the post after a one-two with substitute Jake Lovatt. Wynter headed a chance over the crossbar in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, two teams under new management locked horns as Ramsbottom United completed a 2-0 win over Glossop North End.
Ramsbottom took the lead after just seven minutes when Ruben Jerome beat Darren Thornton down the righthand side and crossed for an unmarked Nialle Rodney to head the ball past Russell Saunders.
The home side should have doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Jerome struck the post from just yards out.
But former Glossop defender Joel Bembo-Leta had the last word against his old club as he made it 2-0 on 72 minutes by firing in a header past Saunders.
Oliver Thornley was sent off after receiving two yellow cards to compound a bad day for the Peakites. Newcastle Town’s unbeaten run continued by salvaging a dramatic late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Clitheroe.
In a match with little first-half action, the game burst into life when Jacob Gregory’s free-kick led to the Blues hitting the crossbar.
Clitheroe broke the deadlock when Max Hazeldine hammered home a half volley on 66 minutes.
But Newcastle Town equalised in the 89th minute when George Shaw headed home.