The touchpaper was lit on Michael Clegg’s return to Atherton Collieries with a rejuvenated performance against Consett in the FA Trophy first qualifying round, claiming victory through a thunderous strike from Ethan Kershaw and then a penalty shootout.

Alongside winger Will Riding, the Black and Whites starting line-up also saw returns to the club from Kershaw, Josh Solomon-Davies and Danny Lafferty, who begins his third stint in the Stripes as assistant manager.

Former Barrow midfielder Lewis Hardcastle, who captained the Bluebirds under Ian Evatt, also took his place in the Colls dugout for the first time in his new role as first-team coach.

The Colls took an attacking impetus from the off as Riding and Amadou Doumbouya led the charge from the wings, supported by Babs Jenkins, Kershaw and Alex Doyle taking control of the midfield.

Despite the Black and White pressure, the Colls first opportunity to take the lead was controversially denied, as Lewis Mansell headed home from a well-taken Riding free-kick only to be adjudged to have made a soft foul in the build-up.

Backed by a raucous Colls faithful who travelled in great numbers, the Stripes continued to take Consett to the sword in the second half, and the goal eventually came courtesy of returnee Kershaw.

Following some penalty-area pinball, a weak clearance to the edge of the box bounced perfectly for the “Collieries Pirlo” to produce a fine half-volley, nestling soothingly into the top corner and igniting the jubilant travelling support.

Consett threatened a late twist in the tale, finding a 94th-minute equaliser through Dominic Curl from a corner, salvaging a penalty shootout lifeline at the last grasp.

However, the Collieries remained comfortable throughout a tight shootout, with Oli Putnam, Lafferty, Max Bardsley-Rowe, Jenkins and Eden Bailey contributing to a 100-per-cent conversion rate, before Consett’s Jake Jensen fired into the bar to miss and send the Colls through.

They will travel to Trafford in the second qualifying round on September 21, before the visit of Kidsgrove to the Dreams2Reality Stadium a week later.