Atherton Collieries secured deserved progression to the next round of the Lancashire Trophy on penalties with a hard fought and attacking display in a 2-2 draw at West Didsbury and Chorlton.

Despite the recent additions of Lewis Rawsthorn and Tom Warren, the Black and Whites named a starting team and bench with no new names, though Toba Obitayo, Eden Bailey, Max Bardsley-Rowe and Danny Lambert all returned to starting action, and in-form youth team striker Liam Sheppard had a place on the bench as Tom Bentham celebrated the recent birth of his child.

The Collieries were slow out of the blocks, and conceded an early double salvo to the hosts through two defensive lapses.

Cameron Darkwah converted what may be the most fortunate goal of his career as a clearance from Ellis Litherland rebounded from a Colls player and straight into his path for an open goal in the six-yard box, before former Colls man Connor Hughes was on hand to convert a scything counter attack for the second.

The first half was not without controversy, as goalscorer Darkwah invited questions with a rogue scissors challenge from behind on Colls captain Lewis Thompson, with some supporters considering him lucky to stay on.

The visitors increasingly found their footing, and Eden Bailey pulled one back with his first goal for the Stripes, rounding goalkeeper Charlie Mitchell before lifting an effort over multiple West defenders and into the bottom corner.

The equalising goal was inevitable, and it was substitute Oli Putnam who pulled off a moment of magic as he drove past the West Didsbury defence before drilling the ball home.

The Stripes had further chances to kill the game in normal time, but for the second time in two matches, the Collieries had to face a penalty shootout to confirm victory. Alex Doyle, Danny Lafferty, Bardsley-Rowe, Bailey and Ethan Kershaw converted their efforts for the Collieries, and misses from Wests’ Darkwah and Gabriel Cole saw the Stripes progress.

Manager Michael Clegg looks to make it three cup wins from three as the Collieries travel to Trafford in the FA Trophy on Saturday (3pm).