ATHERTON Collieries have been handed a home draw against North West Counties First Division side Chadderton in the second round of the FA Vase.

Mark Truffas won plenty of praise for Colls coach Andy Heald after his two goals either side of half time ensured a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Northern League side Newcastle Benfield in the opening round on Saturday.

Heald was also pleased to see a make-shift back four keep a clean sheet.

“We had them (Newcastle) watched a couple of times, and had a good understanding of how they were going to play,” said Heald. “We went with a 4-4-2 and it went to plan.

“We were a bit wasteful and had to defend a bit harder than we should have in the first half, but we got them to settle at half time, and they pulled the result out.

“Mark was tremendous and really it should have been four or five in the end.

“But we are really happy with the win and with the clean sheet.

“We had two lads at centre half and it was the first time they had played together, so it was a really positive result.”

Colls may be able to pick up some tips from neighbours Atherton LR ahead of their match against Chadderton, which will be played on the weekend of November 21.

LR returned to winning ways in the NWCL First Division at the weekend with a 3-1 win at home to Chadderton.

Nial Callaghan gave them the best possible start with the opener inside five minutes but the visitors levelled through an own goal on the stroke of half time.

The result remained in the balance until the final 13 minutes when Daniel Kerr put them back ahead and Moses Yoak added a third a minute from time.

LR’s first win in eight matches in all competitions moved them above their opponents into 12th place in the table.

They travel to Rochdale Town in the second round of the Men United on Saturday, while Colls resume their NWCL Premier Division campaign at AFC Blackpool.

In the Lancashire Amateur League, Tyldesley United endured a difficult afternoon at reigning Premier Division champions Old Boltonians, going down 9-0.

The heavy defeat leaves them second bottom, still searching for their first win after nine games of the league campaign.

Howe Bridge Mills moved up to 10th place, however, following their 4-2 win at home to third-bottom Old Mancunians.

Leigh Athletic maintained their place at the top of Division One in the Manchester League after edging a nine-goal thriller 5-4 at home to Heywood St James.

They have three points more than second-placed Elton Vale and Pennington, in third.

But Pennington won again to keep the pressure up, beating Westbury Sports Club 3-2, and have two games in hand over Leigh.

Hindsford are fifth in the Premier Division following a 4-1 win at home to Wythenshawe Amateurs while Atherton Town are 13th following a 4-2 defeat at Wythenshawe Amateurs.