BEN Hardcastle's 49th-minute goal proved to be enough to fire Atherton Collieries into the final of the Men United Cup.

The only goal of the game settled a tense tie in Colls' favour as Michael Clegg's North West Counties First Division side saw off Premier Division rivals Runcorn Town.

League results also went in their favour, meaning a win at home to Holker Old Boys tonight would seal promotion.

They are also in poll position to clinch the title, with the second-placed side just a point behind leaders Cammell Laird following their draw at the weekend but with five games in hand.

Atherton LR kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 win at Irlam thanks to three first-half goals in the space of nine minutes.

Joshua Melling opened the scoring for Ross McNair's side in the 33rd minute before Craig Dickenson and John Stephenson put them three up with goals in the 18th and 42nd minutes respectively.

The victory comes on the back of a three-match winless run that stretched back to February and appeared to have ended any promotion aspirations.

Despite the impressive victory, it will be a tall order for 10th-placed LR to make three-point gap on AFC Darwen in sixth - the final play-off spot - with their rivals having four games.

Daisy Hill are marginally better placed for a late promotion push. They are ninth, level on points with LR place but having played two games less.

Craig Thomas's side dropped points on Friday night, however, but it could have been worse after Craig Naylor scored an equaliser for them in the 62nd minute of a 1-1 draw at Rochdale Town.