ATHERTON Collieries defied an almighty City of Liverpool comeback to return home from Widnes with three vital points in Northern Premier League West.

They led 3-0 at the break but the Purps levelled matters in the second half, although no sooner had they got themselves back on level par they were behind again thanks to what proved to be the winning goal from Alfie Belcher.

Colls took the lead within 90 seconds of the start when skipper Calen Gallagher-Allison notched his third goal of an increasingly productive campaign.

His close-range header got a slight deflection to wrong-foot Nick Michalskl between the Liverpool sticks.

On 10 minutes the advantage was doubled.

Josh Solomon-Davies instigated the move and Kielen Adams finished heartily from just inside the box.

The green-clad Colls men were running riot and Aaron Dwyer almost finished off a flowing move but his unstoppable drive cannoned off the post and to safety.

Dwyer was not to be denied, though, because in stoppage time he swept home from yards out following a neat Tom Bentham cushioned header.

Colls were good value for their interval lead in what was by a distance their best half of the season thus far.

Normal service seemed to be resumed after the breather.

Adams was inches wide from adding his second as the visitors looked odds on to improve their goal difference significantly.

Then the rather grey Widnes skyline took on a purple rinse.

Just short of the hour, a hopeful punt was delivered into the Colls area and Michael Howard was on hand to apply the final touch.

This unexpected present rejuvenated the hosts totally and they started knocking the ball about with giddy abandon.

With 15 minutes remaining, the arrears were reduced further.

Sam Sheen acrobatically flicked home a hotly disputed corner.

Belcher could have got Colls back up and running but his goal-bound effort was expertly repelled by Michalski.

Sol Honor kept Colls in the lead with a smart close-range save but Liverpool were not to be denied.

Another long ball saw the evergreen Andy Owens peel off his marker before shooting past Honor decisively.

Colls had crumbled and there only looked like one winner, but the overused adage ‘football is a funny old game’ rang true again.

As the Purps faithful sang the final bars of their club anthem, Colls debutant Matty Bryan was released on the flank.

He put a sumptuous ball into the mixer which Belcher finished sublimely to stun everybody in attendance.

What a goal and cue relative Lancastrian bedlam on the pitch and in the stands.

An unbelievable afternoon in Cheshire. A rollercoaster of emotions for those both present and watching on social media but a vital, vital maximum point return for the stripes who remained third from bottom but can now see light at the end of the tunnel.

Next up sees another edition of Friday night football at the Dreams2Reality Stadium as Wythenshawe Town make a first ever appearance in Atherton, kick-off 7.45pm.