REPORT: UNITED 1-1 ATHERTON COLLIERIES

An injury time equaliser from substitute Josh Solomon-Davies denied United a first win the new season on Saturday afternoon.

Matt Thornhill's thunderous strike looked for all the while to be the winner, but substitute Solomon-Davies nipped between two to divert a low cross into the far corner to snatch an unlikely point for the visitors.

With 28 seconds played, Remaye Campbell forced away 'keeper Nico De Freitas-Hansen into a smart save before Jay Goundry fired over from range after finding a few yards of space.

And a strong start was rewarded after 19 minutes when Matty Bowman's cross was only half-cleared and skipper Thornhill did the rest with a fine strike that whistled into the far corner, leaving Freitas-Hansen with no chance.

Dominant throughout the first period, United may have doubled their half-time lead when Barnsley loanee Josiah Dyer raced clear on the break but had a decent shot blocked, and Jack Thomas' follow-up skewed well wide of the target.

Campbell again went close six minutes after the restart when controlling well, but could only fire straight at Solomon-Davies' midriff before a first Atherton threat on the hour.

Mwiya Malumo's mazy run saw him dance into the area and fire beyond Kieran Preston but also wide of the far post.

Preston then had to be at his best to save from Jordan Scanlon's close-range effort and a follow-up was blocked by the superb Bowman as Atherton began to turn the screw late on.

Goundry and Dom Roma then combined to prevent another Scanlon strike and Harvey Gregson fired wide.

But, as the minutes ticked into stoppage time, Collieries did eventually seal a point when good work down the left saw a low cross prodded into the far corner by Solomon-Davies to the jubilation of those from Greater Manchester.

Emmanuel Ilesanmi did have an even later chance to seal maximum points when he broke beyond the defence but, on the angle, fired straight at Freitas-Hansen before Campbell's rebound was blazed high over the crossbar.

The second of our Bank Holiday weekend fixtures sees us travel to Marine AFC on Monday (3pm).

UNITED: Preston, Roma, Angell, Makiessi (Litchfield 74'), Ritzema (74'), Goundry, Bowman, Thornhill (c), Campbell, Thomas, Dyer (Ilesanmi 56')
SUBS (not used): Wakefield, Dearle

ATT: 252