BOTH Atherton sides did themselves proud in the FA Cup Preliminary Round last weekend.

Colls chalked up a memorable 2-0 home victory over Morpeth Town and the LR party was in full swing all the way back from Durham after winning away at Shotton Comrades.

Colls endured a heartbreak start to the season with three league defeats in the space of the opening seven days but have since begun to show real quality and professionalism.

Even in those defeats there was a hint of better things being just around the corner and the Cup tie saw Alan Lord's side dominate throughout with Luke Hardman netting the opener on 10 minutes and Mark Jones underlining their superiority on 61 minutes.

The visitors lost out on a late consolation with an 85th minute penalty miss but that was the only blemish in an otherwise impeccable Colls defence.

They went one better in the NWCL Division One league game away at Glossop North End on Tuesday night with a 3-0 winning performance described by club secretary Paul Gregory as 'the best yet.'

"Glossop is an intimidating place to play at," he explains, "but our lads handled it just great. Paul Griffin has just come back to the club after a spell with Chorley and he was superb in midfield. Anthony Smith got us on our way with a goal in the first half and Luke Hardman killed it off with two in the second.

"I don't think our defence was under threat once all through the game and at somewhere like Glossop that is something to be proud of."

Although Colls have been drawn away in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round to be played on Saturday, September 16. First out of the hat was the name of Witton Albion, currently third in the UniBond Division One table but the Wincham Park home base is Conference standard and the Colls lads will undoubtedly revel in the occasion.

While Albion have made a six game unbeaten start to the league campaign they wobbled in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, before eventually going through by a narrow 4-3 scoreline to Oldham Town, the club currently propping up all the rest in the NWCL Division Two - and that was at Wincham Park!

In the meantime there is the home league clash with struggling Cheadle Town, one of Alan Lord's previous managerial posts, to consider and next Tuesday another league game at Alder House with Great Harwood Town the visitors.

Atherton LR's Cup win at Shotton Comrades came courtesy of goals from Colin Entwistle and Paul Meredith and they will now have First Qualifying Round home advantage against one of the oldest clubs in existence, Sheffield.

Tomorrow LR face a trip to Barrow to play Holker Old Boys and on Wednesday September 13 travel to Nelson.