ATHERTON LR 1 BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 3 ATHERTON LR crashed at home to Bradford Park Avenue, largely due yet again to defensive errors.

The Yorkshiremen took an early lead when Milton Brown capitalised on a mistake by keeper Andy Hills.

Bradford's long ball tactics saw LR's midfielders always chasing possession and it was three minutes into the second half before an equaliser came, Lee Cryer converting Steve Gavin's mis-kick.

On 65 minutes everything began to go wrong for Rovers when Nicky Hay scored from a poorly defended corner and five minutes later Wayne Benn hit an absolutely superb volley.

LR looked visibly disheartened towards the end and the day was summed up when substitute Andy Noone hit the bar from just a yard out. MATLOCK TOWN 0 RADCLIFFE BORO 2

RADCLIFFE Boro's Levi Edwards may just have officially entered into the veteran class but Stainton Park's longest-serving player just gets better with age.

He was on the mark twice in the game against Matlock Town to earn his side three more vital league points.

This latest win keeps Boro seven points behind leaders Lincoln United, who beat Great Harwood 2-1 and eight points clear of third placed Droylsden.

Edwards' first goal came on 16 minutes when he took the ball from Joe Connor and evaded three defenders before shooting in from the narrowest of angles.

The Boro defence is proving to be one of the best in the league at the moment and the Matlock forward line, including player/manager Imre Varadi and last minute £2,000 signing from Worksop Town, Kenny Clark, certainly needed some looking after.

Fortunately Simon Whittle and Loz Greenhalgh kept them superbly marshalled. The one time Clark did break free was on 57 minutes but Boro keeper Andy Johnston pulled off a magnificent save to keep out his top corner-bound header.

Ironically, after a period of sustained Matlock pressure, Boro increased the lead on 59 minutes when Edwards received the ball with his back to goal but produced a magical turn and finish past stunned keeper Phil Robinson.

Striker Peter McRae looks back to top form up front for Boro, showing his pre-season ankle injury is now fully healed. Another bonus for Radcliffe is the current large number of fans following the team to away games and on Saturday they certainly played their part in cheering their players on. MAINE ROAD 1 ATHERTON COLLS 6

"WHEN we do win, we seem to do it in style," says Atherton Colls joint manager Steve Walton on the superb 6-1 win at Maine Road.

Former Daisy Hill and Chorley striker Danny Mills was the star of the show for Colls with goals on 32 and 69 minutes, topping off a superb individual performance. Graham Dodd also grabbed a brace on 54 and 60 minutes, with Paul Cameron on 40 and an own goal on 69 minutes rounding off the scoring. Ged Byrne briefly gave the home side hope with a goal on 56 minutes.

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