ATHERTON Collieries fought back from an early deficit to record a 2-1 win at Stafford Rangers.

The hosts took the lead inside the opening 60 seconds through Luis Morrison, before strikes from Adam Rooney and Scott Bakkor completed an impressive comeback for the Colls.

A quickly-worked corner saw Stafford race into an early lead, Jack Baxter’s cross met by the head of Morrison who powered past Nico Defreitas-Hansen in the Colls goal.

Colls’ reply would come from a set piece of their own, Jay Fitzmartin’s whipped-in free kick nodded home by Rooney to restore parity after a quarter of an hour.

Brad Cooke’s side continued to threaten with Fitzmartin almost capitalising a blunder from Cameron Belford in the Stafford goal, before Gaz Peet saw a strong penalty claim denied.

Stafford went close just before the break, a loose ball falling to Kaiman Anderson on the edge of the area, his volleyed effort dipped narrowly over the crossbar.

A smartly-worked throw-in routine in the second half proved decisive for Colls, the ball falling to Bakkor who lashed home a superb winner.

Bakkor could have added a third right at the death, a quick Colls breakaway culminating in a powerful effort from that whistled narrowly past the post.

Colls host FC United on Saturday, kick off 3pm.