ATHERTON Collieries’ remarkable run in the Buildbase FA Vase ended in heartbreaking fashion.

A stoppage-time winner for Cleethorpes Town on Saturday put the buffers on Colls’ dreams of a place in the quarter finals, going down 3-2.

It made it tougher to take that Colls had taken a two-goal in the first half.

Extra time seemed inevitable, but the Colls were unable to clear an Owls corner, allowing defender Matty Coleman to scramble home the winner.

Atherton tried their hardest to save the game and from a corner Danny Lafferty’s near post header tantalisingly drifted wide of the post with Colls fans already celebrating.

Colls had earlier chances to win the game and could have been out of sight by half time but weren’t as football once again proved how it can be a cruel, cruel game.

For the players, staff and travelling supporters, there feelings of numbness with the shock and pain as it took a while a for the 90 minutes to sink in.

Then the realisation set in of what the club has achieved in this epic Vase campaign.

It had been a meandering journey around the north of England with evocative tales to tell along with the odd tear of joy and pain.

Ultimately, it ended in Grimsby, not Wembley, but everyone at the club can be proud to have reached the last 16 in a competition in which 500-plus teams initially dreamed of glory.

As it was, the Colls were in unchartered territory after seeing off Northern League big guns Shildon in the previous round.

But Colls, faced with a fourth consecutive tough road trip and this time against a side 10 points clear in the NCEL top flight, were undaunted as they took command.

Three minutes into the game a Gaz Peet free kick was flicked into the back of the net with a dinked header by Mark Battersby.

Adam Reid was forced into a good save to ensure the Collieries stayed in front.

Liam Davis was allowed to release a low and hard effort inside of the left quadrant of the area. Reid was alert to it and dived down to prevent a Cleethorpes reply.

Minutes later and a Colls one-two resulted in winger Mark Truffas picking up a loose ball on the edge of Town’s box. The skilful winger collected and curled just wide of the right post after good defensive pressure from the hosts. It was end to end entertainment.

In the last round, Reid played a key role in ensuring Atherton progressed. On 23 minutes the stopper was called upon to make a just as important save from a Marc Cooper volley 25 yards from goal.

Truffas and Battersby both had good chances to increase the lead but the efforts both narrowly sailed over the crossbar but Colls were building up a head of steam.

Peet picked up the ball and zig zagged his way into the box before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Liam Highton to double the lead in the 41st minute.

With half time looming the Collieries were caught off guard.

A regulation cross came in and following a defensive mix-up the ball somehow reached a surprised Liam Davis to add the finishing touch from close range.

From genuinely coasting the Colls left the pitch with their heads down while the hosts were reinvigorated.

Colls had the first real attempt at goal in the second half but Vinny Bailey scooped his 10-yard effort over the bar.

Five minutes later, Town got their equaliser. The excellent Davis again caused problems for the Atherton back four as he drilled in a cross and a Colls defender miscued an attempted clearance into his own goal.

Sandwiched in between this and a Jake Kenny clearance off the line, Bailey had a second opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet. From the edge of the area, the midfielder’s low and hard shot was saved well by Highton.

When Brad Cooke broke through a tight Town defence on 62 minutes the Owls feared the worst.

Just yards out with only the keeper to beat he gut wrenchingly saw his effort cannon off the crossbar.

The price of that misfortune came with the closing act of drama in stoppage time and Colls, joint leaders of the NWCL top flight, must put that behind them as they host Barnton on Saturday, 3pm.