ATHERTON Collieries tasted sweet revenge at West Didsbury and Chorlton after kicking off their return to the North West Counties League Premier Division with a dramatic 2-1 victory.

Substitute Nathan Battersby secured all three points with a late double after Ashley Woods had put the home side in front in the 84th minutes.

Colls have waited six years to get back to the top tier but could have been there sooner had they not lost out to Saturday's opponents in the 2012/13 campaign.

And they faced an uphill battle to turn the tables on their hosts after going into the game without record-breaking goal scorer Mark Battersby, skipper Brad Cooke and the influential Josh Messer, who are all ineligible for the first three games of the campaign after carrying over suspensions from last season.

Colls had the early chances, though, with James Kirby hitting a post from close range before Mark Truffas's follow-up was cleared off the line. Truffas also shot narrowly wide after ghosting through the defence.

West Didsbury came into the game more after half time, and after their goalkeeper Paul Hughes had thwarted Colls with some confident handling they took the lead with just six minutes left.

Danny Taberner had saved an initial effort but Woods coolly slotted home the rebound.

Seconds later it should have been game over but Woods, with the net gaping, somehow missed the ball from six yards.

Cue Battersby, who doubled his goal tally from last season with a brace inside a handful of minutes.

After responding with the equaliser from close range he was on hand to force home the winner in stoppage time, again from six yards.

Colls have also reached the semi-final of the Bolton Hospital Cup following a 3-0 win at Atherton LR in the last eight. An own goal was followed up by efforts by Truffas and Jordan Cover.

They visit Bootle in the FA Cup on Saturday before hosting Maine Road in the league on Monday, kick-off 7.45pm