ATHERTON Collieries remain on course to beat their best-ever points haul in Division One after in defeating Formby 3-1.

The Alder House club, who entertain Bacup Borough tonight, need 14 points from their remaining 12 games to better the 54 points they totalled in 1999-2000.

Phil Brown's mid-table side had little trouble overcoming struggling Formby on saturday with goals from striker Barry Massey - his first in four months - Seydou Bamba and sub Andy Harvie.

FC United stretched their lead at the top of the league with a 1-0 win over Squires Gate.

The Rebels hit eight past the Blackpool outfit in October, but they could only manage a single goal - a 55th-minute Nicky Platt penalty - in front 1,650 at the Tameside Stadium.

Atherton LR are still searching for their first win under new manager Roy Sweeney after going down 1-0 at high-flying Salford City. Rovers matched Salford for long periods but Rick Newell's own goal three minutes after the restart was the difference between the two teams.

Luck continues to desert struggling Daisy Hill in Division Two as they went down 4-3 at second-placed Runcorn Linnets.

Tommy Moore's side were denied a deserved point after Craig Naylor's late equaliser was disallowed for handball.

The second-from-bottom club had made a blistering start and were 2-0 up inside 11 minutes thanks to a Dominic Shinks' free-kick and Chris Naylor's volley. Runcorn hit back to level matters before Rob Haughton's stunning 30-yard half-volley restored the visitors' lead before half-time.

But two goals at the start of the second half sealed the points for the home side.