NEIL Harris was unanimously acclaimed man of the match after making an impressive first team debut for Colne.

With an injury crisis, the teenage centre back was given an eleventh hour call up and fully justified the confidence shown in him by manager Nigel Coates.

Steve Cunningham returned after suspension and began to cause early problems for the Atherton defence.

On 18 minutes, he was tripped down the left flank and from his resulting free kick, Harris rose at the far post to head Colne into the lead.

It should have been two when Sam Heap raced through the defence and rounded the goalkeeper, but incredibly his shot went wide of the post.

Then after a great move between Cunningham and Heffernan, Anthony Murt side-footed over from six yards.

In the second-half, Cunningham continued to cause problems and, after five minutes, Murt failed to connect with his cross with just the keeper to beat.

But on 63 minutes, Murt returned the favour and Cunningham blasted home a second goal.

Heap could have added more goals but his first shot hit the post and then he shot just wide.

Atherton scored a consolation goal from a last minute corner.