FC strengthen grip on title

Source: thisislancashire.co.uk

By Liam Chronnell

FC UNITED stretched their lead at the top of the Division One table to eight points with a convincing 4-0 victory against bottom club Stone Dominoes.

Stuart Rudd's 38th goal of the season handed the breakaway club, who have three games in hand on their rivals, the lead in the 17th minute.

Strike partner Rory Patterson added a second on 33 minutes, and the contest was effectively over four minutes later when Jerome Wright bagged the visitors' third.

Patterson's second goal of the afternoon on 57 minutes completed the scoring.

Atherton Collieries' three-game winning run came to an end when they went down 2-1 at home to Colne.

Goals from Neil Harris and Steve Cunningham handed the points to the visitors, while David Rhodes late strike proved no more than a consolation for Colls.

Atherton LR's staged a brilliant fightback but had to settle for a point after conceding an injury-time equaliser in their 3-3 draw at Glossop North End.

Rovers found themselves 2-0 at the break, before goals from Rob Hope, Ian Berry and Stuart Wellstead looked like they had sealed an unlikely win, only for the home side to grab a share of the spoils in injury time.

Daisy Hill moved out of the bottom two for the first time this year as they overcame Castleton Gabriels 3-2.

John Fairhurst was the hero as he struck twice in the last 10 minutes to ensure Tommy Moore's side leapfrogged Castleton, who had a man sent off midway through the second half, in Division Two.

Dominic Shinks was also on target for the New Sirs club.