DESPITE twice fighting back from a goal down Ramsbottom couldn't hold on for a point at Atherton.

Danny Goodall and Russell Brierley got the goals for the Rams.

Ramsbottom got in an early strike but Collieries goalkeeper Dave Johnson turned Russell Brierley's shot behind for a corner kick.

Atherton's Stuart Shepherd went close and by the 15 minute mark both sides had had a couple of chances to open their accounts.

The home side took the lead on 20 minutes when former Leigh RMI striker Liam Carr scored after Ramsbottom failed to clear.

Ramsbottom should have equalised on 37 minutes when David Yorke-Robinson volleyed over the top after Brierley's overhead kick opened up the Collieries defence.

In the final 15 minutes of the half Ramsbottom finally got on top and grabbed an equaliser on 41 minutes, Danny Goodall firing home after excellent play by Steve Brennan and Yorke-Robinson.

Ramsbottom had a half chance at the start of the second half but Brierley's first time shot was a couple of yards wide.

On 63 minutes Atherton regained the lead when Carr got his second of the afternoon as he ran clear of the Ramsbottom defence. United were unlucky not to level matters when Mike Langhorn's superb cross found Chris Lomas whose goal-bound shot struck a defender and flew behind for a corner kick.

Fourteen minutes from time a rash challenge from Brennan gave Ramsbottom a penalty and Brierley made no mistake from the spot.

On 84 minutes a highly controversial free kick awarded by an assistant referee led to Atherton's winner.

Rams goalkeeper Allan Fairbrother failed to hold the free kick and Ryan Cain scored from close range.

In the final minute Atherton cleared off the line to deny Ramsbottom a share of the points.

ATHERTON COLL...3 RAMSBOTTOM UTD...2