Atherton LR held out for an ‘ugly’ win on the road at Thornton Cleveleys in NWCFL First Division North that maintains their 100-per-cent league record in 2025.

The hosts pushed on early with a quick chance inside five minutes with Luke Noble turning through a lacklustre defensive shape and firing a low shot across the box, but a quick diving Joe Bickerstaffe denied them an early lead.

LR were able to get a chance of their own minutes later, with Tom Romano breaking in the box on the right and lifting the ball to the far post finding Ryan Talbot, but his headed effort was guided over the bar.

A poor start from the Yellows was forgotten by the 35-minute mark, though, as a corner was bounced back out to captain Lewis Adams at the edge of the box, and he turned to send a curling shot goalwards.

Despite being half-parried by the keeper, James Faiers, it was pushed into the roof of the net and gave the visitors the lead and Adams his first goal of the season.

It got even better for LR entering the closing stages of the first half, a corner this time by George Chadwick met in the middle by Lance Houghton whose effort was pushed out but rebounded straight back into the net by a Thornton defender to double Dave Jones’ men’s lead.

Coming out for the second half, Thornton started like they started the first with a frenzy of chances but lacklustre finishing and some great saves by Bickerstaffe kept the hosts at bay.

Thornton finally got the ball in the back of the net as Jon Fraser floated the ball into the box from a free-kick and, following a scramble, it was finally poked in by Archie Lang.

A nerve-wracking final 20 minutes for the Yellows ensued, but in the end, they were able to see out a win on the road.

Manager Jones said: “It was a tense game all afternoon.

“We went two goals up but were we two goals better? No, I don’t think so.

“They got the goal and we knew it was going to be nervous times, we just couldn’t find a pass, or control on the game and sometimes that’s just how football goes.

“The lads stood so strong, though, it’s really difficult to withstand the last 20 there but the mentality was spot on.”

Jones’ LR next host Euxton Villa in the league on Saturday (3pm).