Atherton Collieries’ struggles continued with a difficult 5-0 home defeat to title-chasers Stalybridge on Tuesday night.

The first half was a marked improvement for the hosts after Saturday’s defeat at Avro, in Oldham, however the Black and Whites could not take their chances when they arose.

Oli Putnam came closest with an effort from the edge of the box following great work from Eden Bailey, while Max Bardsley-Rowe and Alex Doyle also proved threatening players for the Stripes.

However, as was evident throughout the evening, the experience of Stalybridge was lethal, and it was journeyman leader Liam Tongue who was quick to stamp his authority on the game.

Following a penalty for a handball by Doyle, Tongue converted to the bottom right comfortably for the visitors to give them the lead, and quickly doubled his tally after volleying home from a corner.

The Colls fought hard to regain a slim foothold in the game at the beginning of the second half, with Lewis Mansell threatening on two occasions alongside Putnam failing to convert a Bardsley-Rowe cross

However, the narrow hope of a Colls fightback ended as Jack Tinning converted a corner, and from there the visitors asserted their dominance.

Josh Quarless caught Ellis Litherland off his line for a fourth goal with 10 minutes remaining shortly after.

Frustrations mounted for the Collieries all evening, with regular fouls from Javid Swaby-Neavin on Bailey remaining unpunished, while an obvious goalscoring opportunity was also denied on the Colls forward in the first half.

These vexations came to a flashpoint in midfield in the 85th minute, as Doyle received his matching orders for a lunge in retaliation for the sequence of unchecked heavy tackles on himself, Bailey and Adam Dawson.

Though there was no doubt about the red card itself, questions were raised in David Chadwick’s post-match interview as to whether the passage of play should have been brought to a close sooner.

Stalybridge completed the rout moments later as Joe Edwards cut through the home defence and slotted home a fifth against a beleaguered Collieries.

The Colls will soon have a chance to make amends as they visit Silsden in the FA Cup on Saturday (3pm).