[themaclad]

On a chilly November Squires Gate took on high flying Atherton Collieries in an entertaining game, seven goals, one sending off and tackles that would have earned red cards in the namby pandy Premier League. This was good fashioned football with no quarter asked or given.
Colls took the lead after two mintes a quick beak down the left hand side a couple of passes and Hardcastle rifled the ball home. It looked like it was going to be a trying night for the home side when from a quality cross from the left Cover powered home a headed to give Colls a 2 goal advantage.
Little had been seen of the home attack when out of the blue a shot went narrowly the wrong side of the post from 20 yards, this lifted the home side and the Cols defence came under pressure finally cracking after 33 minutes when Higham curled one in to reduce the lead, they were nearly level shortly afterwards only being denied by an offside flag, the game was end to end until half time, no further goals though.
Colls increased their lead after 55 minutes, cross from the left, poor defending Cover headed home again.
On the hour Colls were reduced to ten as Forbes was deemed to have gone over the ball following a tackle. Gate changed formation and went for goals and reduced the arears with 15 minutes to go, canny goal it was as well, inch perfect pass with the outside of the foot, chip over keeper by Dawson 2-3. Game on until Gate fell asleep at a corner some hapless defending and Battersby powered home Colls fourth.
On the stroke of full time Gate scored again following an epic fail by Colls keeper Reid who cocked up a clearance and gave Buchan the easy task of rolling the ball home from 20 yards into an empty net. One more chance for Gate but good defending cleared the danger. On the balance of play Colls deserved the win.

Squires Gate 3 Atherton Collieries 4 Att 130