Atherton Collieries Under-18s exited the FA Youth Cup at the first hurdle despite an exciting game and stubborn performance under the Dreams2Reality Stadium lights.

The Black and Whites starting XI featured five names who have featured in Colls senior action over recent months, including Ben Layton and the free-scoring Liam Sheppard, who are currently impressing on loans at Elton Vale and Whalley Range, respectively, alongside skipper Bobby Fenlon, midfielder Alfie Rogers and defender Harry Stephens.

Visitors Stockport Georgians, who play a league above the Colls in the North West Youth Alliance Premier Division, took early control of the game, while the hosts were perhaps guilty of overworking their play in front of a healthy home crowd.

Despite the hard work of the Colls back line and some great work from goalkeeper Finn Jones, it was the Georgians who struck first blood before half time, Luke Casey collecting the ball on the edge of the box and thundering a half-volley into the roof of the net.

The Colls found a foothold and grew into the game after the interval, playing a more natural and confident game, and were good value for the equaliser when it came.

Striker Sheppard ultimately produced a first moment of brilliance to score the leveler.

The sprightly young forward collected a great forward ball from James Wharton on the touchline, before drifting past three men and slotting home from the edge of the box.

The Georgians, however, certainly showed their own high calibre in response, and appeared to win the game in the dying moments just minutes later, Jake Taylor making a storming run across the box before firing into the bottom left corner.

However, it was the superlative Sheppard who produced his second moment of magic to equalise again in the 90th minute, driving a powerful long-range free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner.

With the scores level at full-time, the game was to be decided by penalties.

Despite the best efforts of Jones, there was no stopping the five great strikes taken by Stockport Georgians, and while there were confident conversions from Sheppard, Layton, Stephens and Maniu Mohammed, the Georgians keeper produced a fine save from the effort of Sam Meighan to secure victory for the visitors and heartbreak for the young Colls side.