and crash out

ATHERTON Town crashed out of the Lancashire Amateur Challenge Shield, beaten 4-1 in the semi final by the defending champions Charnock Richard.

The scoreline in no way reflected the balance of a game which effectively turned away from Town just before half hour mark when Neil Lewis was red-carded for handling the ball on the goal-line.

At that point Town led 1-0 through Liam Ralph's early strike but the dismissal and Charnock scoring from the resultant penalty through Andy Taylor made it a double punishment.

Increasing Charnock pressure as the game progressed finally told against Town's ten men and late goals came from Simon Fadden with two and Andy Roberts.