ATHERTON Colls clinched a first ever appearance in the semi finals of the NWCL League Cup with a superb 2-1 away win at Newcastle Town.

Tom Foster and Dennis Haslam's lads player their hearts out to fully deserved victory in the Worthington Challenge Trophy tie down in the Potteries. Former Leigh RMI man Liam Carr added to his two goal salvo on Saturday in the 3-2 win over Ramsbottom United when he opened the scoring on 16 minutes.

Collecting a Paul Vandenberg cross he turned to crash home a beauty from 20 yards. The same player brought a stunning save out of the home keeper on 65 minutes and anguish turned to despair as the ball came back into play, straight down the other end and Newcastle levelled.

Colls defending throughout with sweeper Andy McKenzie at the heart of everything was top class and in the last minute they broke clear, Vandenberg crossed yet again and Ryan Cain was on hand to fire in a superbly timed winner.

The Alder House outfit's opponents in the last four clash will be Kidsgrove Athletic who beat Great Harwood Town 6-0 last night in a quarter final replay.