Atherton Collieries recorded their first home win of the season with a victory against Nantwich Town, thanks to second-half goals from Scott Bakkor and Marcus Cusani.
After the postponement of Saturday’s fixture against Radcliffe, both teams paid tribute following the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a minute’s silence prior to kick off.
Despite the visitors dominating possession in the early stages, the first chance fell from a Colls break with captain Gaz Peet's cross calling the keeper into action inside the first ten minutes.
The first opening for the visitors saw Connor Heath go close at the other end, his volleyed effort taking a slight nick off a Colls boot as it went whistling past the post.
Once again Gaz Peet was causing problems on his return from injury, a trademark marauding run into the box allowed him to square for Scott Bakkor, who’s side-footed effort was blocked from close-range.
Another Colls break on the half-hour mark culminated with Finlay Lockett firing over from the edge of the area, before Nico Defreitas Hansen was on-hand at the other end to deny Jack Sherratt from out wide.
Wayward finishing continued to be a theme throughout the first-half, Jay Fitzmartin unsuccessfully trying his luck from distance before Connor Heath also sent an effort high and wide for the visitors.
There was a close call for Colls just before the break, Sean Cooke’s whipped-in free kick was knocked back across the box, thankfully bouncing inche's clear of Defreitas-Hansen's goal-line.
After a closely-fought first-half, Colls seized the initiative in 50th minute through Scott Bakkor, the striker taking a dropping ball well and dispatching first-time past Louis Grey in the Nantwich goal.
The goal spurred the game into life and the visitors almost levelled immediately, a flicked header from a corner bouncing off the upright less than a minute from Colls taking the lead.
Nico Defreitas-Hansen was kept busy in between the sticks for Colls, turning a curling effort from Sean Cooke around the post before adjusting-well to tip a deflected cross over the bar.
It was the stripes who would double their advantage on 55 minutes however, Marcus Cusani capitalising on a poor clearance from Nantwich and curling the ball into the far corner after some tidy footwork in the box.
With the visitors chasing a way back into the game, Joe Mwaslie had the ball in the back of the net in the 82nd minute, however the flag went up on the near side for what looked a clear offside.
Despite late pressure, the Colls defence stood firm to keep Nantwich shut out, with Nico Defreitas-Hansen called into action again with a sprawling late save to keep the clean sheet in-tact.
Colls are back in action in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy on Tuesday 13th September, making the short trip to neighbours Atherton LR in the Flat Cap Derby.
