Atherton Collieries picked up a statement 2-1 victory on the road at Hednesford Town in NPL West with a resilient and gritty performance despite being under the cosh and reduced to 10 men for the second half.

Manager Michael Clegg spoke after the game of his pride in the team’s performance, which came with the Collieries still experimenting in the search for their strongest shape and XI.

Midfielders Will Riding and Pa Babou Jenkins both returned to the starting line-up, alongside Tom Bentham who partnered Kielen Adams for the first time. The Black and Whites also experimented with a switch in the offensive and defensive duties of Bobby Bjork and Josh Solomon-Davies on the right flank.

Although the bookmakers will surely have given the Collieries slim odds against the affluent Pitmen and their Football League standard facilities, there was very little to separate the two sides in the first half, with both teams probing and the game reduced to half-chances at best.

The hosts took the lead through Jack Bearne with the first truly dangerous attack of the game on the 40-minute mark. Although the Collieries generally held firm against the physical set-piece threat of the Pitmen throughout, sustained pressure following a corner allowed the Whites winger a rare slither of opportunity to powerfully volley home.

The Collieries immediately responded, however, going on the front foot following the resumption of play and they were quickly awarded a penalty following a succession of heavy tackles on Babs Jenkins from Oliver Harrison and Elliot Johnson.

With the Black and Whites awarded their first spot-kick off the season, player/assistant manager Bentham stepped up to duly convert, celebrating his 35th goal for the club with the small but vocal pocket of travelling supporters.

With the hosts shooting towards their vociferous home faithful for the second half, the dynamic of the game certainly changed following the interval, with the Collieries happy to adopt a backs-to-the-wall approach to fight for the result.

And this siege mentality was only solidified following the dismissal of Bjork.

The Collieries defender was first booked early in the second half following a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge against a Hednesford attacker in what some may have seen as a crowd-pleasing decision from the referee, but there were certainly no complaints as he picked up a second yellow minutes later for a scything challenge.

Bentham soon made way for Max Bardsley-Rowe to allow the Collieries to maintain their shape, while Alfie Belcher reinforced the midfield.

Although the possession and momentum for the second half was comfortably in the hosts’ favour, the Colls defence remained firm and reduced the visitors to a minimal amount of truly dangerous opportunities, with Belcher, Bardsley-Rowe and Lewis Rawsthorn offering the counter-attacking outlet.

And on the stroke of the 90th minute, it was a Hednesford set-piece that allowed the Collieries the incisive breakaway. Winger Bardsley-Rowe was on hand to out-muscle and outpace the Pitmen defence following a comfortably-defended corner, creating a three-versus-one opportunity and offloading to Jenkins. The midfielder picked out Belcher with the freedom of the penalty box to slot home, with the Colls subs and management staff joining the players on the pitch in celebration.

Despite the late goal, the Collieries still has work to do with eight added minutes due to an injury to keeper Solomon Honor, who again had a fantastic game, but the defence and midfield held firm to nullify any Hednesford threat.

Next up is a home clash with Congleton on Saturday (3pm).