Atherton Collieries pre-season continued with a much-improved performance against higher division Bamber Bridge, only to come undone to a quick-fire late double from the visitors.
With pre-season reaching its final embers, the Black & Whites named a line-up showing a team increasingly finding their shape. Lewis Mansell returned to lead the line for the first time this summer, reinforced by Alex Doyle, Eden Bailey and Max Bardsley-Rowe, whilst the trialists on show also looked increasingly comfortable with their roles within the team.
The first half truthfully offered little to report, with the Collieries nullifying the threat of the higher league opposition whilst offering a renewed confidence up-front courtesy of the pre-match Mansell boost.
It was the Briggers who found a way to take the lead at the start of the second half, through former Collsmon Nathan Caine bundling home from a corner.
It wasn’t long however until Lewis Mansell made his consistent pressure count, being brought down in the box following an ill-timed run from the Brig goalkeeper, and the forward duly converted the resulting penalty.
Although the Collieries were good value for a result throughout the evening, Bamber Bridge stole affairs in the final moments, with Liam Brockbank setting up for Max Cane to nod home.
The result was confirmed seconds later, as former Black & White Bailey Thompson also returned to bite the hand that fed, providing Brockbank with a goal of his own, though not without controversy as the defence argued the ball had already left the field of play moments prior.
Pre-season continues for the Collieries with the annual season opening curtain-raiser against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, with manager David Chadwick set to make some further new signing announcements in the build-up.
