On a spring is sprung afternoon Colls and Droylsden played out a keenly contested stalemate at the Butchers Arms. The return of skipper Danny Lafferty was the only change to the line up from the Chasetown encounter seven days previously as Cleggy's team looked to continue their recent impressive run of form. They wore black armbands out of respect for ex-Chairman Steve Payne who passed away during the week. The opening half was a spirited affair with both teams looking to play the game on the deck, they more or less cancelled each other out. The hosts edged the half chances created statistics as Messrs Thompson and Hartley's sticks were rarely tested. Hartley was however forced to make a great one on one stop from the menacing Sefton Gonzales while Thompson somehow tipped a net bound Oli Roberts free kick onto the bar. Tom Bentham dispatched the rebound from point blank range but the assistant referee had his flag up. The Collieries got better after the break but the game continued in a similar vein. Defences were on top totally as the attackers struggled to find ways of cracking the safe open. Hartley made a perfunctory save from a Steven Rigby set piece and a Roberts free kick caused a moment of panic in the Bloods penalty box before being booted to safety. Late on Gareth Peet made a last ditch textbook penalty box challenge as the trigger was about to be pulled and then their Josh had an opportunity to see his name up in lights. His sweetly struck cross shot whisked narrowly wide with Thompson looking beaten. A point apiece was a fair result as Colls took their unbeaten run into double figures. The attackers had a bland day but the defence were again quality. It was a fifth clean sheet on the spin. Michael Clegg was more than content with the point and in his after match interview he heaped praise on Droylsden saying that they were one of the best sides in the Evo-Stik Division 1 West. It's another away day next Saturday when the black n white stripes visit play-off protagonists Prescot Cables, KO 3pm. Atherton Collieries: Greg Hartley, Clive Smith, Gareth Peet, Oli Roberts (Josh Peet 85'), Danny Lafferty (C), Ian Rowlands, Ben Hardcastle, Vinny Bailey, Tom Bentham (Adam Farrell 62'), James Kirby, Connor Gaul (Dave Sherlock 74'). Substitutes (not used): Matty Grimshaw, Chris Cheetham Colls Mon IPA of the Match: Clive Smith Attendance: 237
Report: Emil Anderson
Photograph: Ian Monk
Report: Stafford 2-0 Colls
November 29, 2023
Stafford Rangers captain Ethan Stewart led firmly by example on Tuesday night, scoring both goals as Atherton Collieries were beaten 2-0 at the Stan Robinson
