Atherton LR 1-4 Cheadle Town
That's more like it.
In the previous match report I said there were two things that needed addressing at Crilly Park: the bad run of form and the fact that we haven't won away in the league yet this season. Fair to say that a 4-1 win isn't a bad way to respond.
Shortly after the Vulcan bomber flew over Crilly Park on the 5th minute we sprung into action, Chris Sherrington providing a teasing cross for Rick Whyatt only for the LR keeper to block the shot.
We're used to things flying overhead when at Park Road anyway.....!
Two minutes later we found ourselves ahead. Rick Whyatt turning provider this time, slotting Danny Vincent through on goal whose initial shot hit and then bobbled over the keeper's prone body, allowing Danny to leapfrog him and stroke home into an unguarded net.
Three minutes later and Rick was through on goal himself having latched onto a flick-on header but he shot wide.
Our dominance brought further reward on the 21st minute. Chris Sherrington again providing another teasing cross from the left for Danny Vincent who made no mistake and side-footed home from close range for his second of the game.
LR's only realistic chance in the first half came on the half-hour mark when a cross from the left was side-netted at the far post, one of those efforts that managed to fool a few people into thinking it had actually gone in.
Shortly before half-time we had a great opportunity to go further ahead but Luke Pearson screwed his shot horribly wide when through on goal.
LR were then afforded a spell of their own for the opening part of the second half, one which would see them reduce the arrears on the 56th minute when we switched off somewhat at a corner and allowed Dickinson a free header on goal.
With the surrender of two-goal leads at Ashton Town and Handsworth Parramore still fresh in the memory LR's spell of possession was making yours truly slightly nervous. On 66 minutes both Steve Piggott and thankfully an LR striker completely missed a through ball which didn't help matters one bit.
In hindsight there was nothing to be concerned about as we then took complete control of the game once more from the 70th minute.
Taking advantage of a mistake from the LR left-back, Danny Vincent charged down the right and delivered the perfect ball for Rick Whyatt to plant home from inside the box.
Substitute Rathburn was then through on goal on 78 minutes but saw his effort cleared off the line with us extending the lead even further with six minutes remaining thanks to an outrageous goal.
Seeing the LR keeper off his line and fully 40 yards out on the left of midfield, Luke Pearson unleashed a dipping shot that might already be a contender for our goal of the season.
On either side of that goal were two more that had been disallowed; substitute Liam Tongue the unlucky person on both occasions, wandering into offside positions.
We return home to Park Road this coming weekend when we entertain Holker Old Boys before a busy end to the month with two away trips to Chadderton and Stockport Town before the return fixture against Widnes. Here's hoping this win has signalled an end to the bad run and a return to the form we enjoyed at the start of the season.
TEAM: Piggott, McLaughlin, Pearson, Trucca, Birch, Dunn, Vincent (Rathburn), Hincks, Westmerland (Tongue), Whyatt, Sherrington. SUBS: Rathburn, MacAulay, Tongue.
