Atherton Collieries picked up a fourth win from four in pre-season as they dispatched Droylsden 1-0, winning the Tony Downes Memorial Trophy in the process.
The hosts have been a resurgent force in non-league football since returning to the pyramid in 2023, and a healthy crowd turned up to see a game played with competitive spirit in memory of Guardsman Neil Tony Downes, who was sadly killed serving his country in 2007.
Droyslden were perhaps the quickest out of the blocks and applied some initial pressure to begin the game, but Atherton found a foothold and had created some chances of their own going into the first hydration break, coming closest through a Louis Potts header.
The momentum continued to build for the Colls, and eventually a lead came on the brink of half-time. Intense pressure from young Stripes forward Liam Sheppard forced a mistake from Bloods defender Elvis Amoakwah, who overhit a backpass to goalkeeper Jordan Latham. Sheppard remained steadfast in pursuit, and by the time Latham had regained control of the ball, he could only clear it straight into the tenacious forward, the ball looping into the back of the net.
Over half-time, Daniel Lafferty made broad changes to his Black & Whites eleven. Last season’s ‘Coalden Boot’ winner, Chinedu Uche, was amongst them, and could’ve doubled the Stripes advantage within seconds, drilling wide from the edge of the box following a quick counter.
The Bloods soon regained their own tempo, and the Colls spent many portions of the second half on the back foot with the hosts retaining the ball and hunting an equaliser. Their biggest chance came with five minutes remaining, a low drilled shot at the near post was well saved by Harvey Bardsley, who impressed again between the sticks for his third clean-sheet in four friendlies.
The Colls almost made it two in the final minute, an Essa Janneh header at the far-post looping narrowly wide of the goal.
Next up, the Colls host Alsager Town on Tuesday night (7:45pm), with admission being ‘Pay what you like’ as the club raise funds for their new hospitality facilities. Bala Town visit the Dreams2Reality Stadium on Saturday.
