BUOYED by Monday night’s win against Colwyn Bay, Atherton Collieries were brought instantly back down to earth with a 2-0 defeat at Mossley in Evo-Stik North.

On a stodgy pitch, Colls struggled to make any leeway and, after falling behind three minutes in, rarely threatened Oliver Martin in the Mossley goal.

A fine diagonal ball forward was the cause of the opener, the hosts’ Adam Latham collecting it in space but out wide and with little danger apparent.

With no pressure applied by the Atherton defenders the midfielder cut inside and poked his effort into the bottom corner of the goal.

Ten minutes later, Mossley almost added a second through Mason Duffy, who cut through the Atherton defence but fired wide.

Finally waking from their slumber, Colls had by far their best spell of the game and Ben Hardcastle brought a routine save out of Martin. Moments later the unmarked Darhyll Mason headed over from an Iain Howard corner.

But in the second of two added-on minutes, Mossley doubled their advantage on the counter-attack, as Colls switched off and allowed Jack Tuohy a simple tap-in.

In the second half, Atherton continued to threaten the Mossley goal but could not find the breakthrough.

In fact, but for Colls keeper Adam Reid, the defeat would have been much heavier. Reid pulled off a good stop to deny Latham from the edge of the area and a superb double save when he parried Duffy’s fierce drive and Elliot Harrison’s follow-up.

Perhaps his best effort came late in the day when he reacted brilliantly to save Duffy’s header at point-blank range.

At the other end Colls produced little, although Ash Woods volleyed one just wide and substitute Johnny Gorman could not find the finish to trouble Martin. The visitors’ best opportunity fell to Jordan Cover but, when he was through one-on-one with Martin the normally-reliable Cover fired way over the bar and Mike Clegg’s men left empty-handed.

In the Hallmark Security League First Division managerless Daisy Hill were defeated 1-0 at Holker Old Boys.

Senior players Matty Knowles and Craig Haynes took charge after Craig Thomas’ resignation last week but they could not engineer a turnaround in fortunes.

There was, however, some joy for Atherton LR, who won 4-1 at New Mills.

Jordan Arklie-Young hit two goals after Ryan Mellor and David Moore had put them in the driving seat.

New Mills’ George Blackwell scored a 90th-minute consolation from the penalty spot.