A quickfire first-half double helped Atherton LR pick up all three points on the road in NWCFL First Division North in South Manchester on Saturday when they beat Maine Road 3-1.

An early fifth-minute build-up on the wing by LR’s Owen Green eventually found Brandon Dawson who supplied the short cross to Tom Romano. Seemingly out of options, Romano suddenly turned and dribbles through the entire Maine Road defensive line and slotted the ball past the keeper to give LR their early lead.

The visitors kept the tempo up with Maine Road struggling to cope with the counter attacks.

And one such attack resulted in a corner in the 23rd minute. Harvey Brookes decided to recreate Bolton Wanderers’ Randall Williams’ goal against Barnsley in the play-offs last year and the corner was swung over everyone’s head and safely into the net to double the advantage for LR in style.

Seconds from the restart in the 25th minute, after a corner of their own, Maine Road found themselves victim to a quick counter attack with Joe Bacon supplying George Chadwick near the box and he smashed the low ball into the back of the net to pile on the misery for the hosts.

A slower start to the second half for LR saw Maine Road’s Kaine Williams take advantage as he broke through the flank and turned in a low effort to give hope for the hosts on the 64th minute.

But Lance Houghton and Dave Moore held out in a fantastic performance by the defensive duo, rejecting chance after chance for Maine Road.

And valiant defending saw LR run out winners in a strong away-day performance.

Following the game, assistant manager Gareth Flitcroft acknowledged that and said: “We knew it was going to be a difficult game, especially after last time.

“The threat in the forward lines, speed, pace of the wingers - it made for a really tricky game for us.

“I thought we got a really good early foot in the game, three good goals and there was a lot of positives.

“The away form is really impressive, the lads are playing well.

“Each away game has been challenging so we are really happy to get the points today.”

LR’s next is a big game as they Bourne Town in the last 16 of the FA Vase on Saturday (3pm).