Battling Atherton hit back A first-half performance described as "garbage" by angry manager Shaun Lynch saw Atherton Town go 2-0 behind at Rochdale Sacred Heart.

Fortunately the Howe Bridge outfit showed true championship credentials to bounce back for a 3-3 draw and remain second in the Premier Division table two points adrift of leaders Stockport Georgians. A Phil Hornby converted penalty reduced the arrears but shortly after the interval it was 3-1.

"From that point on we battered them," enthused Lynch adding the rider, "but we shouldn't have been in that position in the first place." Daniel Christie got Town's second from a Jamie Chadwick pass and Scott Dowds set Neil Lewis through for the leveller. Centre back Steve Dixon was named Leighton Packaging man of the match.

The Town Reserves beat New Mills 6-1 to head the Division Two table by three points. Elton Fold also had a dire first half trailing 2-0 by the break at home to Springhead. The improvement in the last month in Guy Mallinson's side was clear to see as Fold hit back for a 4-2 win. Man of the match midfielder Paul Owen scored a hat-trick and John Armstrong one. "I was very pleased indeed," said Mallinson. "Everything is beginning to take shape now."

The Fold Reserves went down 7-2 at Wythenshawe Amateurs with goals coming from Keith Ingham and Steve Doran. Hindsford march on in Division One unbeaten in the seven opening league games with six wins and one draw.

The highly impressive 5-0 away win at Manchester Royal leaves Peter Barry's team two points adrift of leaders Wilmslow Albion who have a 100per cent record to date. The front two appear unstoppable at the minute with Matt Toone and Neil Critchley both scoring twice again and Craig Briggs chipping in with the fifth.

Breightmet United went fifth in the table with a 4-1 away win at Unsworth. Paul Gallagher got Phil Breakell's side off to a great start with a tap-in after just five minutes but the rest of the first half saw United struggle and it was 1-1 by the interval, largely due to keeper John Hinks saving a penalty.

The second period was much better with Gallagher getting his second, Paul Smith scoring a fine individual effort and Andy Hicks bagging the fourth. The United Reserves won 3-1 at home to Old Alts.