ATHERTON Colls defied the atrocious conditions to defeat Ashton Athletic 1-0.

They introduced goalkeeper Paul Hughes, from West Didsbury & Chorlton, for his debut as Danny Taberener was unavailable. 

Brad Cooke was serving a one match ban for five bookings with Nathan Battersby taking his place in the engine room. 

Athletic came to Alder House buoyed by a 3-0 victory at West Didsbury  in their previous outing.

The opening period of the match saw the players getting used to the soggy conditions. 

Mark Battersby almost chased an under hit backpass down before Athletic No 9 Joel Brownhill shot over from a tight angle.

Ben Hardcastle then his shot saved at the near post by Martin Pearson after good approach play by Dave Sherlock. 

On 20 minutes Sherlock headed narrowly wide from pointblank range after a pinpoint Mark Battersby centre. 

Battersby then thought he had broken the deadlock but was flagged for offside.  Colls had the best chances in the first half and perhaps the most clearcut was seconds before the interval. 

A through ball parted the defence like the Red Sea and  enabled Mark Truffas to race clear on goal. 

The ball seemed to stick in the mud slightly which helped the chasing defender whose top notch harrying forced Truffas to shoot wide. 

Athletic’s best effort was when a powerful shot hit the outside of the netting. 

A few players and spectators thought the ball had actually gone into the net.

 Athletic controlled the opening 10 minutes of the second half.  Danny Smith headed wide following a bit of concerted pressure before Hughes saved well from Adam Howard. 

Colls then got the bit between their teeth with Nathan Battersby and Josh Messer pull the strings in the middle. 

Mark Battersby turned his defender in the six yard box but Pearson made a great save. 

The deadlock was broken on 66 minutes when Mark Ayres flicked the ball home from a corner for his first goal of the campaign. 

The visitors were not finished and Hughes had to make another couple of important stops.

Good pressure from Colls almost forced a 30 yard own goal and Mark Battersby had a shot tipped over by Pearson in injury time.