Colls win late after almost squandering big cushion

Atherton Collieries defied an almighty City of Liverpool comeback to return home with a vital three NPL West points on Saturday.

Colls took the lead within 90 seconds of the start when skipper Calen Gallagher-Allison notched his third goal of an increasingly productive campaign.

His-close range header got a slight deflection to wrong-foot Nick Michalskl between the Liverpool sticks.

On 10 minutes the advantage was doubled. Josh Solomon-Davies instigated the move and Kielen Adams finished heartily from just inside the box.

The green-clad Colls men were running riot and Aaron Dwyer almost finished off a flowing move, but his unstoppable drive cannoned off the post and to safety.

Dwyer was not to be denied, though, as in stoppage time he swept home from yards out following a neat Tom Bentham cushioned header.

Colls were good value for their three-goal interval lead in what was by a distance their best half of the season thus far.

Normal service seemed to be resumed after the break and Adams was inches wide from adding his second as the visitors looked odds on to improve their goal difference significantly.

Then the rather grey Widnes skyline took on a purple rinse. Just short of the hour, a hopeful punt was delivered into the Colls area and Michael Howard was on hand to apply the final touch for the hosts.

This unexpected present rejuvenated them and they started knocking the ball about with abandon.

With 15 minutes remaining, the arrears were reduced further when Sam Sheen acrobatically flicked home a hotly-disputed corner.

Alfie Belcher could have got Colls back up and running soon after, but his goalbound effort was expertly repelled by Michalski.

Sol Honor kept Colls in the lead with a smart close-range save but Liverpool were not to be denied. Another long ball saw the evergreen Andy Owens peel off his marker before shooting past Honor decisively.

Colls had crumbled and there only looked like one winner, but the overused adage ‘football is a funny old game’ rang true again.

As the Purps faithful sang the final bars of their club anthem, Colls debutant Matty Bryan was released on the flank. He put a sumptuous ball into the mixer which Belcher finished sublimely to stun everybody in attendance.

It was an unbelievable afternoon in Cheshire - a rollercoaster of emotions for those both present and watching on social media but a vital, vital maximum point return for Michael Clegg’s Stripes.

Next up sees another edition of Friday Night Football at the Dreams2Reality Stadium, Wythenshawe Town making a first ever appearance in downtown Atherton (7.45pm).