ATHERTON COLLS are suffering from a Maine Road jinx.

On Saturday the slumped to a third defeat this season against the side, losing 3-2 in a home League Challenge Cup first round tie.

But the game's stark truth for Colls' manager Dennis Haslam was the result was more a case of his side beating itself than it being taken apart by a quality outfit.

Defensive lapses in the first half were almost unbelievable, and, but for goalkeeper Paul Blenkinship, the interval score could have seen the game well beyond redemption.

Maine Road led 2-0 before Colls mounted an effective attack. Scott Dowds' shot was pushed out for a corner but he got his just reward with a header at the near post from Martin Littlewood's cross

Maine Road grabbed a third before Steve Oliver scored the best goal of the game for Colls on 76 minutes with a powerful header from 15 yards out.

But the damage had already been done.

ATHERTON LR crashed out of the League Cup in a 2-0 home defeat by Warrington Town. Ray Birch and Paul Berry got the goals.?

TYLDESLEY UNITED thrashed Caledonia 5-2 - shocked into life after going down to an early penalty.

David Devall levelled it and then surged clear with goals from Carl Boydell 2, Phil Gore and a second from Devall.

United Reserves won 6-3 at Hall Green with a MoM performance from John Pilkington, who hit three goals. Also on target were Simon Harwood 2 and Simon Austenberry. Late on player/boss Ian Williams appeared as a sub, only to put through his own goal. Otherwise, he was unflappable.

LEIGH ATHLETIC came from behind to beat Walshaw 2-1. But it took time for them to awaken from their slumbers, first Neil Sumner lobbing the goalie, then Richard Wilson sliding in a dramatic winner.

On Saturday (2pm) Athletic face Burnley Belvedere at Charles Street in the Lancashire Amateur Cup (3rd round).

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