Atherton Colls edged out 3-2 by Whitby Town at Skuna Stadium

Junior Mondal and Priestley Griffiths both scored show-stopping set-pieces, joined on the scoresheet by captain Daniel Rowe.

Jack Evans and Enock Lusiama then struck late on, as the home side threatened to mount the unlikeliest of comebacks.

The Colls came into Saturday’s game following an important win at Bradford (Park Avenue), and were looking to use that momentum to gain further ground on those above the drop zone.

But it was Whitby who made much of the early running, and that pressure eventually told when centre-back Rowe headed home to give his side the lead.

That advantage was doubled just before half-time through Mondal’s spectacular free-kick, which bent beautifully out of the sizeable reach of Colls’ debutant ‘keeper Joe O’Shaughnessy.

O’Shaughnessy would produce a great save to prevent further damage shortly after the break, tipping Jacob Gratton’s effort over the bar.

But that relief would prove temporary as Whitby made it three, with Griffiths this time curling one from just outside the area.

At this stage, travelling supporters could’ve been forgiven for beginning to relax, but nervy moments would remain, as Evans and then Lusiama turned home at the end of a pair of goalmouth scrambles.