Tomorrow afternoon we travel to the Pavilions in Runcorn for a Men United Cup semi-final. The Collieries haven't reached this stage of the competition for 13 years and will be hoping to overcome Runcorn Town who ply their trade in the Premier Division.
Last time we met: Saturday 5th July 2014 - Pre season friendly Runcorn Town 0-1 Atherton Collieries Atherton Collieries opened their pre-season schedule with an unannounced friendly against Runcorn Town at Orford Jubilee Park in Warrington. The hosts, who finished 5th in the Premier Division last season would prove to be tough opponents but a mixture of hard work and organisation saw Colls win. Collieries took 18 players to the match and all were used at some point. Further players were on holiday including winger Mark Truffas. After having several encouraging pre-season sessions down at Bee Fold Lane, the management team and players were looking forward to their first match. The first half was slightly shaded by Atherton with a number of shots reigning down on the Runcorn goal. Dylan Maloney - who was with Evo-Stik Premier side Droylsden last season - was in inspired form seemingly at the centre of the the majority of Colls attacking play. Colls were very compact and rarely lost their shape. Gaz Carson was instrumental in defence and Andy Heald likewise in the centre of midfield. The second half saw the introduction of Ben Hardcastle, Jordan Cover and midfielder from last season Jake Patton. The deadlock was broken minutes into the second half when Patton floated a corner into Carson who headed in from close range. Shortly after that, a well worked move saw Tom Shaw send a cross in for Cover. Depsite working space well, Cover couldn't steer his header past the Runcorn goalkeeper. Halfway through the second period, Hardcastle found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. As we was setting himself to shoot, he was hacked down from behind. In the league this would have been a penalty and a red card, but the referee waved play on in the spirit of pre-season.
Previous results: Tuesday 1st March 2011 - Runcorn Town 6-0 Atherton Collieries Monday 14th March 2011 - Atherton Collieries 0-1 Runcorn Town
Played for them both: Paul Shanley enjoyed a spell at Alder House under Steve Pilling before moving to Runcorn Town. He has scored 26 goals for Town this season and sits fourth in the leading league goalscorers.
Details: Admission: £5 adults / £3 concessions Kick off: 15:00 Pavilions, Sandy Lane, Weston Point, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4EX The Pavilions clubhouse and bar will be open from 13:00 enabling fans to have a few drinks just yards from the ground itself.
Last time we met: Saturday 5th July 2014 - Pre season friendly Runcorn Town 0-1 Atherton Collieries Atherton Collieries opened their pre-season schedule with an unannounced friendly against Runcorn Town at Orford Jubilee Park in Warrington. The hosts, who finished 5th in the Premier Division last season would prove to be tough opponents but a mixture of hard work and organisation saw Colls win. Collieries took 18 players to the match and all were used at some point. Further players were on holiday including winger Mark Truffas. After having several encouraging pre-season sessions down at Bee Fold Lane, the management team and players were looking forward to their first match. The first half was slightly shaded by Atherton with a number of shots reigning down on the Runcorn goal. Dylan Maloney - who was with Evo-Stik Premier side Droylsden last season - was in inspired form seemingly at the centre of the the majority of Colls attacking play. Colls were very compact and rarely lost their shape. Gaz Carson was instrumental in defence and Andy Heald likewise in the centre of midfield. The second half saw the introduction of Ben Hardcastle, Jordan Cover and midfielder from last season Jake Patton. The deadlock was broken minutes into the second half when Patton floated a corner into Carson who headed in from close range. Shortly after that, a well worked move saw Tom Shaw send a cross in for Cover. Depsite working space well, Cover couldn't steer his header past the Runcorn goalkeeper. Halfway through the second period, Hardcastle found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper. As we was setting himself to shoot, he was hacked down from behind. In the league this would have been a penalty and a red card, but the referee waved play on in the spirit of pre-season.
Previous results: Tuesday 1st March 2011 - Runcorn Town 6-0 Atherton Collieries Monday 14th March 2011 - Atherton Collieries 0-1 Runcorn Town
Played for them both: Paul Shanley enjoyed a spell at Alder House under Steve Pilling before moving to Runcorn Town. He has scored 26 goals for Town this season and sits fourth in the leading league goalscorers.
Details: Admission: £5 adults / £3 concessions Kick off: 15:00 Pavilions, Sandy Lane, Weston Point, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4EX The Pavilions clubhouse and bar will be open from 13:00 enabling fans to have a few drinks just yards from the ground itself.
