It was a night of mixed emotions at the Dreams2Reality Stadium as a rotated and youthful Atherton Collieries side failed to hold on to a first-half lead against higher division Lancaster City in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy second round to lose 3-2.

The occasion was used by manager Michael Clegg to cast his eye over a selection of the Stripes’ promising and on-form Under-18s cohort, who have certainly impressed in the North West Youth Alliance this campaign, with Ben Layton, Alfie Rogers and youth skipper Bobby Fenlon all making return call-ups to the first-team squad.

It was striker Liam Sheppard, however, who received the nod to start, on the back of 41 goals from 30 competitive games this season so far for the Colls youth team, Whalley Range and Daisy Hill respectively.

And the spritely hotshot duly delivered, in partnership with the experienced Matty Bryan in what was a fine display.

Despite going into the match as underdogs, it was the Black and Whites who took the early control of the possession, with forward Alfie Belcher producing a save from a powerful effort before Lancaster stopper Andre Mendes was fortunate the rebound landed closer to his feet than young Sheppard’s.

Youth team talisman Sheppard will consider himself frustrated not to have opened his account sooner, after rounding Mendes moments later but being unable to beat the defender on the goalline with an uncharacteristically limp effort.

However, there were no doubts when the next chance on goal came, with Sheppard dispossessing defender Edward Elawa-Ikpakwu on the edge of the penalty box before finding his spot in the goal with ease.

Lancaster began to find their feet as the half developed, though the Colls were unfortunate not to add to their lead when a cross from Belcher was fumbled by Mendes, with Bryan a rogue bounce away from taking advantage.

However, it was Sheppard again who added to the Colls advantage, collecting a drilled cross from Will Riding and lifting the ball home from a tight angle, with Ethan Kershaw also contributing great play in the build-up.

While it was a dream first competitive start for the young forward, visitors Lancaster had their own script to play to in the second half with five former Colls players named in the squad.

Defender Dylan Thompson was the first to bite the hand that fed, scrambling home from a dangerous long throw, and from there the game was only moving in one direction.

Within moments, the visitors duly collected an equaliser through an Aaron Bennett penalty.

And despite Alex Doyle, Alfie Rogers and Jack Dorney adding fresh legs in midfield, it was former Colls captain Lewis Mansell who headed home a late winner to end the Black and Whites' Trophy dreams for this campaign.

The Colls return to the Dreams2Reality Stadium on Friday night, taking on NPL West league leaders Vauxhall Motors in another keenly-anticipated ‘#FridayNightFootball’ clash on home soil.