Bamber Bridge and Atherton Collieries are having rather different seasons and it was evident at the weekend in their 2-0 win.

Brig are a team filled to the brim with confidence in their push for the play-offs, while The Stripes, on the other hand, are still suffering from the stop-start form that has come to define their campaign.

Saturday’s trip to the Sir Tom Finney Stadium would be a tough test, the Colls were under no illusions, and that test was ultimately failed following an uncharacteristically passive performance from Brad Cooke’s team.

The hosts began with fire in their bellies and it was a tad overdue when they took the lead on 18 minutes.

A smart passing move bamboozled the Atherton defensive group as Finn Sinclair-Smith picked up a rushed clearance and the forward looped the ball into the back of the net. It was a fine finish, one incredibly similar to his effort earlier in the season at the Skuna Stadium.

Atherton’s meek start was addressed following this setback and on the half-hour mark, Cooke’s side pushed Brig and were rewarded with a series of corners, but with no end product.

Bailey Thompson was afforded a run-on goal but his effort coincided with an unfortunate bobble and sailed high and wide. The forward, it must be said, worked tirelessly as he led the attacking line.

The introduction of Marcus Cusani to the game seemed to bring a little more life to the Stripes’ forward play but before the winger could make an impact, Bamber Bridge doubled their advantage.

Cooke and his management team were particularly disappointed as Paul Dawson headed home at the near post and Colls do not concede many goals like that.

The Collieries, again, used this to gain a bit of momentum in the game. They attacked over and again but could not manage that final ball to see them through at goal.

Bamber Bridge were incredibly professional in their management of the game. There was no panic, no stress – they soaked up pressure and played their way out like a team clearly hopeful of securing that play-off spot.

The only other major event to note was a red card for Brig’s Mcauley Wilson. Bailey Thompson was sent through with a promising ball and clumsily, the defender side swiped him off the ball leaving the referee with no option as he was the last man denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Arran Pettifer’s resulting free-kick went narrowly wide of ex-Colls stopper Luke Hutchinson’s near post.

The reality is you cannot win every game in this division – there is no shame in a six-point return from the last four games.

Saturday was frustrating, but also a reminder that sometimes in football it is okay to be beaten by the better team.

Colls know what they need to do to improve and Cooke is looking ahead to tonight’s trip to Radcliffe (7,45pm) to do that.