Atherton Collieries 1 Fleetwood Town 1: ATHERTON Collieries entertained fourth from top of the league Fleetwood Town last Saturday, hoping for a repeat of their form the week before when they beat town rivals Atherton LR 3-0.

Manager Alan Lord has totally rebuilt the side in the last few weeks in the attempt to get the club out of the ralegation zone and in form Fleetwood were always going to be tough opposition.

Colls are nothing if not resolute these days, but they conceded a goal in a bizarre manner on 41 minutes when a cross from Lenny Read somehow evaded Osborne and the ball sailed into the top corner.

What a transformation in the second period with Colls playing far more positively and it was the turn of the visitor's keeper to work overtime. Chances went begging at either end, but in the dying seconds of normal time Colls got the deserved equaliser when Mark Denham stabbed the ball home from close range after a goalmouth melee. Indeed in injury time Colls had a golden opportunity of winning the match with the visitors defence in disarray. It was a marvellous battling performance by Colls against top class opposition and it made it seven points out of the last nine.