REPORT BY WINNERS LAD

Leek Town produced, arguably, their finest display of the season so far resulting in a stand out 3-0 victory against higher league opposition to progress to the 1st round proper of the FA Trophy.

What made the win even more impressive was that it was achieved without Ross Davison and Captain Marc Grocott, who have been 2 of their key midfield performers up to this point of the season.

As a result of their absence Blues manager Neil Baker changed to a solid looking 5-2-3 formation with Scott Wara, Olly Harrison and Josh Ryder looking a formidable line of centre halves in the middle of the back line with Billy Reeves and debutant Will Hugill providing protection in front. Jesse Bavanganga and Louis Keenan were the wing backs expecting to support a front three of Rob Stevenson, Tim Grice and Tom Carr. Perhaps surprisingly, Dan Trickett-Smith was named only as a substitute.

Special mention must go to youngster Will Hugill who slotted in well on his first appearance and worked tirelessly in midfield alongside Reeves and never looked out of place. However the man of the match award must go to Tom Carr who broke the Atherton back line time after time and was a constant threat on the Leek counter attack for the full 90mins.

In a tight first half with Leek playing down a fair slope of a pitch it was indeed Carr who had the first chance on 10 mins as he was played through on the right and his pace took him clear of the Atherton defence but his effort across Defreitas-Hansen was palmed away by the goalkeeper with a strong right handed save.

The opening goal came on 22mins from a disputed Leek free kick. The initial delivery came to nothing but Carr was able to retrieve the ball and from his cross Ryder rose to thump a header against the bar. Atherton failed to deal with the rebound and Oliver Harrison was on hand to sweep the ball home from 8 yds to put the Blues one up.

And it was a lead they were able to take into the break as, despite a couple of spells of Atherton pressure prompted by Aaron Smith, Sam Booth had little to do in the Leek goal.

ATHERTON COLLIERIES 0 - LEEK TOWN 1 HT

In the early stages of the second half the referee who, up to that point, had had a good game infuriated both sets of supporters with a couple of decisions.

In the 52nd min he awarded a penalty for Leek for a foul on Stevenson when it looked to those watching that the Blues forward had committed the first offence. Reeves took advantage of Leeks fortune to dispatch the spot kick with ease and make it 2-0.

Shortly after the restart, maybe in frustration, Adam Rooney committed a shocking challenge on Stevenson scything him in two but to everyone's amazement the official only produced a yellow card. Stevenson was unable to continue and had to be replaced by Trickett-Smith whilst the Atherton manager substituted Rooney, probably to ensure that his side would continue to have eleven on the pitch.

The Leek substitution had no effect on the visiting side as they went on to turn in an almost perfect away performance, comfortably soaking up any Atherton pressure and producing lethal counter attacks that should have brought greater reward than the one further goal they did.

On 58mins a lovely outside of the right foot pass from Trickett-Smith was inch perfect to play in Carr on the left but his shot was just the wrong side of the post. On 61mins another break away and great move involving Trickett-Smith and Grice resulted in a pacey whipped cross from the striker looking for Carr in the middle. Defreitas-Hansen just got the slightest of touches to the ball which resulted in Carrs effort just clearing the bar when a goal looked certain.

Just 2 mins later Carr was in again but steered another effort just wide before another burst forward saw the striker hauled back by the shoulders by an Atherton defender in the penalty area. It looked more of a penalty than that which had been given but the referee deemed no offence had been committed.

The chances continued to come for the Blues. On 69mins Trickett-Smith and Hugill combined down the left resulting in a Trickett-Smith effort that he unfortunately dragged wide before Hugill had a shot that was well blocked by a lunging Colls defender.

On 73mins Defreitas-Hansen produced the save of the match as he tipped over a Carr volley from point blank range to deny the striker the goal his performance deserved.

Instead it was left to his strike partner, Grice, to deliver the third goal on 79mins as he beat the onrushing Defreitas-Hansen to a ball played over the top, took it around the keeper, and rolled it into the net from a tight angle to seal the cup tie for the Blues.

Booth was finally called into his first save on the match on 88mins as he palmed away a late Atherton effort to preserve a clean sheet which the defensive efforts of the side certainly merited and which no doubt would have pleased manager Baker as much as the 3 goals scored.

ATHERTON COLLIERIES 0 - LEEK TOWN 3 FT

Leek return to NPL West league action next week with the visit of Hanley Town, a tantalising game in prospect - tickets are available HERE

Leek Town line up as follows

1. Booth

2. Wara

3. Keenan

4. Hugill

5. Harrison

6. Ryder

7. Bavanganga

8. Reeves (c)

9. Grice

10. Carr

11. Stevenson replaced by Trickett-Smith (56)

Substitutes : Brown, Pickering (unused)

Attendance : 201