Atherton Collieries secured three vital points with a narrow but deserved 2-1 triumph at NPL West play-off hopefuls Congleton Town.
Given the fact it never stops raining in northern England, the Cleric Stadium surface was freakishly arid as both teams played the lively conditions with absolute respect and produced a very competitive game of football.
The first half was an end-to-end affair with few clear-cut chances. The defences were on top, so to speak, but it was the Stripes who fashioned the period’s standout moment.
The mercurial Aaron Dwyer dinked a ball into the box which enabled Scott Bakkor to control and thunder past the helpless Bears glovesman, Craig Ellison.
Colls commenced the second half vibrantly and soon got a penalty. Kielen Adams vigorously chased down the ball out wide in the Congleton area which led to a surprised Ellison upending him. There was no malice whatsoever, but it was a definite spot-kick.
Dwyer stepped up, Ellison guessed the right way and got both hands on the ball albeit in vain to the delight of the Collieries.
Michael Clegg’s team now looked set for another showcase victory which was ultimately how it played out, but not without the odd bump in the road.
Going 2-0 down galvanised the hosts and almost immediately they reduced the deficit. A free-kick on the halfway line was pumped into the box and Kieran Knapper applied the finishing touch.
It was game on and Colls had some real defending to do for the almost 40 minutes remaining.
But they still looked dangerous on the break and a diving Adams was millimetres away from meeting an inviting cross with his head.
Nine stoppage-time minutes came and went and Colls left Cheshire with a fifth away three-pointer against the current top seven-placed teams on the league ladder.
At the final whistle, the jubilant players, management and supporters quite rightly celebrated as one.
On Saturday, it is the first of a three-game home run when Staffordshire outfit Chasetown make only their second-ever appearance at the Dreams2Reality Competitions Stadium (3pm).
