By Harry Tomlinson

ATHERTON Collieries reached their second cup final of the season when they ran out comfortable 4-0 winners against Litherland REMYCA at Alder House on Saturday.

Mark Battersby celebrated securing a new one-year contract by opening the scoring in the 28th minute to give Colls a half-time lead.

Then, three goals in four second-half minutes from Battersby, Brad Cooke and Matthew Boland rounded off the win and manager Michael Clegg was pleased with his sides's performance.

"It was as one-sided a semi-final as you'll see, he said. "The conditions were poor but it didn't limit us and the lads applied themselves brilliantly."

The win means that with commitments in three cups and 10 league games still to play, Colls face the prospect of 15 matches in five weeks as they enter the final stages of the season with aspirations of lifting up to four trophies.

Elsewhere, Daisy Hill returned to winning ways as they overturned a 2-0 half-time deficit to win 3-2 away to Eccleshall.

Manager Craig Thomas had to play himself as Daisy could not name any substitutes on the bench when a minor car crash ruled out two players making the game.

A Craig Naylor brace and Daniel Gregory's 86th minute winner kept promotion hopes alive with Daisy just one point off the play-off places in the North West Counties First Division.

Thomas' side now come up against Colls tonight at St James Street with plenty to play for in 'the derby with no name'.

Atherton LR were unable to build upon last week's victory as their trip to Northwich Flixton Villa was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Ross McNair's side remain in tenth – just four points off the play-offs – but the games in hand held by others make it a tough ask for LR to chase promotion.