ATHERTON Collieries recorded their first home win in the Evo-Stik League North Division, beating Ossett Albion 2-0 in a feisty encounter.

It was the first ever meeting between the two sides and initially looked like one that would live long in the memory with a goal and two straight red cards in the opening quarter of an hour.

In a whirlwind start for Colls they took the lead after just three minutes. Kris Holt received the ball in the centre of the goal and fired into the bottom right-hand corner with goalkeeper Dylan Parkin, a loan signing from Chesterfield the previous day, unable to reach it despite his best efforts.

Eight minutes later the match was turned on its head as Albion winger Kieran Scargill was shown a straight red card following a late challenge on Brad Cooke, the incident happening right in front of the home bench and their frustrations were clear to see.

The frayed tempers were not calmed and in the next passage of play, Cooke was once again caught by a late and reckless challenge by an Ossett player.

This time the Colls skipper, although with somewhat understandable frustration, reacted and he was shown a straight red card by the referee after much deliberation with his linesman.

The rest of the half was full of niggling challenges and long balls. Colls did try their best to get the ball down and play but did not quite click in the final third.

Ossett came close to equalising with a quick free kick on the edge of the box, taken while Colls were still constructing their wall. Adam Reid had to be alert to scramble across his goal and did well to scoop the ball to safety.

Reid again saved his side when James Eyles volleyed goalwards, the keeper covering the angles effectively. After going into the break 1-0 ahead Colls took control of the second half and based on their performance were good value for the three points.

Gareth Peet came close to doubling his side's lead three minutes after the restart but his effort, after bursting through, was pushed out by Parkin. The resulting corner was nodded narrowly wide by Danny Lafferty.

Just after the hour mark Colls found their second goal, as Jordan Cover turned his man and squared his pass to Darrhyl Mason who controlled nicely and produced a great finish that will do his confidence no harm at all.

Colls boss Michael Clegg opted to see the game out and introduced Rhys Nevins and Jordan Grant, the former looking assured in possession in the middle of the pitch, the latter bolstering a defence that had worked tremendously hard since Cooke’s early dismissal.

The home side saw out the rest of the game to collect a thoroughly deserved three points against experienced Evo-Stik League opposition.

On Saturday Colls return to Cleethorpes Town, the scene of last season's FA Vase heartbreak for an Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round tie.

In the Hallmark Security League First Division, Atherton LR beat Cammell Laird 2-1 with Rodney Ajayi and Ryan Mellor scoring, but Daisy Hill lost 2-1 to Sandbach. Jordan Hussey hit Daisy’s goal.