Atherton Collieries hit the Pitching In NPL Division One West half century point mark following a narrow home field victory over Nantwich Town.
The first half was one which can be succinctly described as attritional. The inhospitable weather didn’t help a jot as The Dabbers edged proceedings without showing any real cutting edge. Thirty minutes in, Kai Evans’ shot was easily gobbled up by stopper Sol Honour and moments later Colls responded but Scott Bakkor fired high and wide after good work by Tom Bentham and Danny Lambert. Hardly a half to warm up the hardy souls on the sidelines.
Moments after the restart, it was Colls lift off as Bakkor showed good awareness to play in Aaron Dwyer who scored from a yard or so out. Not as aesthetically pleasing on the eye as one of Aaron’s usual efforts but the majority in attendance at the D2R weren’t complaining. He edged further clear in the Coalden Boot race.
Colls were now in the ascendancy and Bakkor was a constant thorn in the sides of the Town defence. Like the first forty-five minutes, there were again very few chances of note. Late on, Town’s frustrations spilled over as left back Perry Bircumshaw was first in the showers following a second caution.
An ugly but pleasurable triumph for Michael Clegg’s men who had been given a regal runaround in the reverse fixture last November.
On Friday evening it’s a trip to promotion chasing Vauxhall Motors, ko 7.45pm. Check out the usual media sites for travel details.
