Atherton Collieries rallied from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Nantwich Town in a Division 1 West clash on Saturday. The match, played at Atherton’s home ground, featured a subdued first half before a more dynamic second-half performance from the hosts.

Nantwich initially appeared to take the lead shortly before halftime when Ollie Pope found the net, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. The visitors then went ahead when Josh Hancock capitalized on a well-timed pass from Aidy Roxburgh to score just before the break.

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Atherton began to dominate possession and apply increased pressure on Nantwich’s defense. The turning point came with around 20 minutes remaining when Joe Piggott was penalized for a foul inside the penalty area, allowing Liam Sheppard to convert from the spot and level the score.

Atherton’s substitute Aaron Bennett made a decisive impact less than ten minutes later by delivering a curling shot that found the back of the net, putting the home side ahead for the first time in the match. Following that goal, Atherton maintained control and ensured Nantwich were unable to mount a comeback.

The win provided Atherton Collieries with valuable points as they continue their campaign in Division 1 West. Nantwich, meanwhile, will look to address their second-half struggles ahead of their next fixture.