Wednesday 13 August 2025
NWCFL Premier Division
 

West Didsbury & Chorlton 0
Atherton LR 1 (Lawless, 90+4)

Attendance: 650

West line-up: Martin, Jones, Riley, Jackson, McConnell, Roberts, Rowney (Moscrop, 64), Banister (Dawson, 68), Lazenbury, Matthews (Holt, 68), Briggs (Abadaki, 36).

Atherton LR line-up: Bickerstaffe, Chadwick, Brookes, Amoakwa, Houghton, Obasoto, Green, Moore, Hunter, Bacon, Romano. 

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On Wednesday night a 94th minute Tom Lawless winner stole all three points for Atherton LR after an uneventful evening of football in M21.

It was the second time in a week that West's players exited the Brookburn Road Pitch having just dropped points in second-half stoppage time to a newly-promoted side. Last time out it was Euxton Villa who stunned West at the death to salvage a 3-3 draw, and manager Paul Marshall followed that by making three changes for the visit of the Laburnums. One of these was the debut that he handed to experienced centre-back Lee Jackson after joining from Witton Albion the previous day. 

It was undoubtedly an evening where both sides' defenders got the better of their attacking counterparts. Visitors Atherton just about edged the first half and brought out a number of smart stops from West 'keeper Ollie Martin, but for the most part it was a game where neither team really managed to get a foothold in the match. West's attacking options were dealt a blow shortly before the break when striker Andy Briggs was forced off with the same groin injury that blighted his 24/25 season.

The 650 fans in attendance on a warm evening in South Manchester were not treated to much more goalmouth action after the break either, and a stalemate looked increasingly inevitable as the minutes drifted by. West however did look like they might have had a fortuitous opportunity to take the points with ten minutes to go. It was caused by a misplaced backpass from visiting right back George Chadwick that almost arrived at the feet of West's Jordan Lazenbury, who was looking to build on his hattrick against Euxton at the weekend. The Panthers were spared however by goalkeeper Joseph Bickerstaffe, who was very quick off his line to avert the danger. 

The deciding moment came in the final seconds as substitute Tom Lawless received the ball in between the West centre-backs, controlled it perfectly to beat both men and calmly slotted the winner under Ollie Martin to take the points. It led to jubilant scenes in front of the small but vocal travelling contingent, who on balance deserved to see their side take home three valuable points.

Atherton manager Dave Jones commented afterwards that he was pleased with the energy that his side had shown and how it demonstrated an understanding of "what it takes to win games at this level", whilst Paul Marshall in the West dugout noted that the evening "summed up where West are at at the moment". 

West host Brighouse Town in the FA Cup Preliminary Round on Saturday afternoon.