ATHERTON COLLS fell to a second successive 1-0 defeat - but it could have been much worse.

"Maybe there were some tired legs on our lads with two games in three days," said club secretary Emile Anderson.

"But 1-0 at Rossendale flattered us a little bit. We never competed as we have done recently, and, although we had a fair bit of possession, we never really looked like scoring."

The decisive goal came in first-half injury time as a 20-yard effort, which was going well wide, deflected off the hapless Lee Bowles and finished in the back of the net, with Colls keeper Steve Morris wrong-footed.

Tony Smith, Mark Parry and Liam Bowden were the star performers in the injury-hit Colls side.

ATHERTON LR 1 crashed 2-1 at home to Ramsbottom United, going behind after just three minutes.

They rallied well with two players on loan from Trafford, Chris Patterson and Barry Massay, making impressive debuts.

And they levelled levelled on 55 minutes when Patterson forced the ball over the line in a mad scramble.

Both sides squandered chances in the second half before a last-minute penalty decision gave it to United.

MoM for Rovers was centre back Chris Smith, promoted from the Reserves, while ex-LR star Neil Wallace was MoM for United.

LEIGH BOROUGH beat Seven Woods 2-1, Edwards and Scott Lewis on target. MoM Gary Prescott.

DAISY HILL slumped 2-0 to Alsager. MoM Keeper Stuart Winstanley prevented further damage with a stunning penalty save.

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