ATHERTON LR boss Steve Hartle was happy to weather Saturday's storm.

His side were over-run in the opening 20 minutes by a rampant Whitley Bay - but they held out for a 1-1 draw.

"We weathered the storm and at the end of the day we could have pinched it," he said. "In fact, the best chance of the first half fell to us when Lee Cryer blasted over from a tight angle."

The visitors took the lead on 66 minutes when LR keeper Martin Hailey, already limping heavily from a knee injury, appeared to have the ball kicked out of his hands by Steve Holden, and Bay were one up.

LR levelled on 81 minutes when a long throw from Mark Stewart was headed on by Darren Royle. Cryer hooked back into the danger area and Steve Iley blasted in from five yards.

ATHERTON COLLS boss Steve Walton reckons luck was against his side as they crashed 1-0 at Kidsgrove Athletic.

"We played well and certainly defended superbly," he said. "Andy Pendlebury and Steve Dixon were outstanding at the centre of defence and new signing from Tetley Walker, Mark Brady, had a good game up front alongside Graham Dodd. Their goal came from a hopeful shot from outside the area."

JUNIORS: Eastleigh U9s beat Rope & Anchor 5-1, their 19th victory of the season. Goals from Luke Sylvester, James Langin, Lee Fiendley and Michael Tang 2. MoM Michael Lea. And they followed up by beating Bodysports 13-0 with goals from Fiendley 3, Ian Mort, MoM Langin 3, Steve Meredith, Tang 2, Gary Shannon and David Harrison.

Lowton FC beat Wigan Foxes 15-0 in the Leigh U12s League; then then beat Culcheth 3-2 in the Cup semi-final, Phil Cunliffe's late goal deciding it. MoM Mike Jantzen.

Latest from Hindsford Junior FC...Eagles beat Ladybridge 9-0 (Tom Bradbury 4, Daniel Young 2, Tom Finch 2, Matthew Eckersley; MoM Ben Lenders); Boys beat Clifton Palace 8-0 (Scott Pendlebury, Stuart Newton 2, Iain Howard 5) but lost 3-1 at Pennington (Newton; MoM Pendlebury); Boys B beat Pennington 2-0 (Robert Foxen, Iain Howard; MoM Chris Holden); U10s drew 2-2 with Heyside (Daniel Finch, Matthew Houlihan; MoM Robert Swanton) but won 5-3 in a penalty shootout at Langley Rangers (MoM Houlihan scored in normal time for 1-1; Luke Joyce, Simon Halliwell, Daniel Finch, Grant Willett in the shootout, David Langley saving two penalties); Villa U13s beat Northside 3-2 (Partridge, O'Rourke, Hayes; MoM Richard Davis); Colts U14s beat Ladybridge 2-1 (Mark Dickinson, Steven Archibald); Hawks U11s beat Boothstown Lads 3-0 (Dean Edwards 2, Dominic Lee; MoM John Lawton).

Bethany Raiders beat Hindsford Rovers 2-1 to return to the top of the league. Stuart Pickup gave Hindsford the lead, Chris Doherty and Ben Martin won it for Raiders. Tops for Hindsford were Mark Goddard and MoM Jack Dyke, for Bethany Tom Manning, Richard Potter, Adam Ward and Chris Wise.

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