September 1996

Atherton went behind in this FA Cup replay in the 4th minute after Paul Murphy headed Liversedge into the lead. Atherton created a number of chances but couldn’t find the finishing touch until substitute Ricky Wilson hit home on the hour. Neither side could find a way through before the 90 minutes were up so the game went into extra time. In the 95th minute a strong run by Mark Stewart that left three players in his wake ended with a cross for Lee Cryer to head home but two minutes into the second period of extra time Dean Worrell hit an impressive shot which flew into the top corner. At the end of the game Atherton won the toss to stage the second replay at Crilly Park the following Monday.

Team - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Mark Stewart, Kenny Quigg, Mick Southern, Paul Kirwen, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Chris Smith, Lee Cryer, Matty Brooks Subs Ricky Wilson, Gary Cowburn, Scott Derbyshire

This was Atherton's fifth game of the season and the supporters were still left waiting for the first win. Laburnums started well, Matty Brooks just failed to get a touch on the ball in front of an open goal, Lee Cryer hit his shot straight at the keeper and Damien Kelly’s free kick was heading goalwards before deflecting off a defender and going wide. Eastwood came back into the game and hit the post from a free kick by Connolly. Eastwood took the lead in the 30th minute when Harrison belted the ball into the net. Eastwood continued to pile the pressure on the home defence, but the half ended 0-1.
The second half saw a battle in midfield, with Eastwood coming off the best, Atherton's forwards getting little assistance. In the 70th minute Atherton's Dave Channon was sent off after a rash challenge and from the resulting free kick Eastwood's defender Popps headed in their second. The ten men of Laburnums battled on and Steve Iley came close to scoring, but his header went just wide.

Team - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Dave Channon, Kenny Quigg, Mick Southern, Steve Iley, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Gavin MacDonald, Lee Cryer, Matty Brooks Subs Paul Griffin, Paul Kirwen, Steve Gavin

Atherton took the lead in this FA Cup 2nd Replay in the 35th minute through Lee Cryer but two minutes into the second half Liversedge were awarded a penalty which Paul Smith converted. At 90 minutes the score remained level so it was on to extra time. Mick Wood put Liversedge ahead on the stroke of half time in extra time, but shortly after broke his leg so badly he couldn’t be moved from the pitch and the game was held up for 20 minutes until an ambulance arrived. Wood had broken his leg in two places and needed an operation. A minute into the final period Atherton were awarded a penalty which Paul Burrows scored.

Team - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Steve Iley, Kenny Quigg, Mick Southern, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Steve Gavin, Lee Cryer, Matty Brooks Subs Paul Griffin, Gary Cowburn, Paul Kirwen

 

With the next round of the FA Cup due to be played on the Saturday, it was with some relief that this Preliminary tie was finally decided in the 3rd replay. Atherton left it very late to progress. Kenny Quigg and Gavin McDonald were unavailable for this match because of work commitments. LR went behind through a first half Paul Murphy goal following a corner to the near post, but with just two minutes remaining Lee Cryer scored to send the game into extra time yet again. However, Mark Stewart scored in the 95th minute and nine minutes later Lee Cryer scored again to send Atherton through.

Team - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Steve Iley, Paul Griffin, Mick Southern, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Lee Cryer, Steve Gavin, Matty Brooks Subs Paul Kirwen, Dobson, Gary Cowburn
 

After four matches in the Preliminary Round, Atherton went straight into the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. The visitors suffered an early blow when Lee Saunders injured his knee during the warm up. Ilkeston began the game by attacking hard, Mark Hallom heading just wide and Gary Richefond's 25 yard volley went just wide, but gradually Atherton came into the game. Steve Gavin forced a good save from keeper Paul Norton, Lee Cryer shot over and Paul Burrows headed just wide. Andy Hills was again called on to make a good save when Gary Simpson's free kick from the edge of the area nearly caught Laburnums out. Hills pushed the ball away but it fell nicely for Andy Shaw who saw his strike come back off the post. The match developed into a great cup tie. Not brilliant football but exciting to watch. Hills saved well from a Mark Hallam strike after a flick on by Kevin Lampkin and just before half time Lee Cryer broke free at the front, but his shot went wide. There wasn't much good football on show, but plenty of hard work by both sides.
Ilkeston came storming out for the second half, pressuring the home defence. Lampkin saw an effort go just over the bar and Andy Hills was forced to make a good save from a panicky back pass from a defender. Ilkeston did get the ball into the net, Dave Robinson's header going in, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Andy Hills. Despite being tired after so many games in the last week, Atherton battled hard and refused to allow Ilkeston to dominate the game. They made a real fight of it. However, with the game heading towards a draw Laburnums broke the deadlock. In the 85th minute Damien Kelly found Lee Cryer who beat two defenders before putting in a perfect pass for Paul Griffin to fire in an unstoppable right foot shot.

Team - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Matty Brooks, Kenny Quigg, Mick Southern, Steve Iley, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Paul Griffin, Steve Gavin, Lee Cryer Subs Gavin MacDonald, Paul Kirwen, Gary Cowburn
 

Atherton LR finally got their first League win of the season and moved off the bottom of the table thanks to a Mattie Brookes goal five minutes from time.

LR - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Mark Stewart, Kenny Quigg, Mick Southern, Steve Iley, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Steve Gavin, Lee Cryer, Paul Griffin Subs Matty Brooks, Gavin MacDonald, Gary Cowburn

Workington - Lee Copeland, Darren Wilson, Tom Shepherd, John George, John Holliday, Nigel Dustin, Lee Collins, Graham Emerson, Garry Wright, Paul White, Simon Parry Subs Denis Dwyer, Ian Milburn, Steve Hodgson
 

A good performance from Atherton saw them defeat second in the table Curzon Ashton and inflict the hosts first defeat of the season after they’d won three and drawn four of their opening seven games. Laburnums dominated much of the first half, taking the lead in the 19th minute when a fierce strike by Mark Stewart was blocked, but the keeper couldn't hold the ball and Lee Cryer was there to put the ball in the net. It wasn't until five minutes before the end of the first half when Curzon had their first shot on goal, Smith forcing a good save from keeper Andy Hills. After the game Curzon’s manager, Tommy McLean, resigned.

LR - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Mark Southern, Kenny Quigg, Steve Iley, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Steve Gavin, Lee Cryer, Paul Griffin Subs Paul Kirwen, Gavin MacDonald, Matty Brooks

Curzon Ashton - Karl Williams, Neil Williams, Michael Fox, Ian Street, Darren Connor, Carl Nesbitt, Francis Hyland, Mike Nelson, Stephen McNicholas, Chris Smith, Graham Stamper Subs Gary Washington, Geoff Dale, Stephen Nolan
 

Atherton LR gained their first win over Gretna in their fifth attempt. The visitors had not won any of their first seven League games before this match. LR had Kenny Quigg missing due to holidays. However, after a goalless first half, Mattie Brooks volleyed home after 66 minutes and three minutes from time a corner was flicked on at the near post by Steve Iley and Steve Gavin turned the ball in.

LR - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Paul Kirwen, Matty Brooks, Steve Iley, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Neil Wright, Gavin MacDonald, Lee Cryer, Paul Griffin Subs Steve Gavin, Elliott Simms, Scott Derbyshire

Gretna - Glenn Johnstone, Les Armstrong, Mike McCartney, Gary Townsley, Jamie Close, Hodgson, Duncan Armstrong, Eddie Kennedy, Andy Walker, Stephen Roe, Paul Taylor Subs Jimmy Robertson, Craig Potts, Shane Bird
 

For the second of three meetings between these sides within a week and a half, Laburnums progressed to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. It was Curzon's new manager Dave Denby's first game in charge. Atherton had a good opening twenty minutes. A 75 yard run by Matty Brookes and a perfect cross allowed Lee Cryer to open the scoring in the 10th minute. Six minutes later a great pass from Steve Iley (or Paul Burrows depending which report you read) over the top of the Curzon defence allowed Lee Cryer to run through and score his second. As well as that, Brookes had hit the side netting, Paul Burrows was sent free on goal but knocked the ball just too far ahead of himself and a Mark Stewart free kick was cleared off the line. As the half went on Curzon pulled themselves into the game and Andy Hills made a couple of good saves. Carl Nesbitt headed over the bar when he really should have done better.
The second half saw Atherton make it 3 - 0 when a Mark Stewart free kick found Lee Cryer on his own in the area and his hat-trick came in the 53rd minute. However, with the job seemingly done, LR sat back and conceded midfield to Curzon. In the 62nd minute ex-LR player Ian Street reduced the arrears for Curzon and with just seven minutes remaining Malcolm O'Connor made it 3 - 2, toe poking home after a goalmouth scramble. It was a tense last few minutes as Curzon tried to find the equalising goal. They had a strong claim for a penalty in the last minute for handball, but the officials said no. After the final whistle blew Curzons Francis Hyland was red carded for comments made to the officials about the penalty decision.

LR - Andy Hills, Damien Kelly, Paul Kirwen, Mick Southern, Steve Iley, Mark Stewart, Paul Burrows, Matty Brooks, Lee Cryer, Gavin MacDonald, Paul Griffin Subs Steve Gavin, Neil Wright, Elliott Simms

Curzon Ashton - Murray, Neil Williams, Michael Fox, Ian Street, Darren Connor, Carl Nesbitt, Francis Hyland, Mike Nelson, Stephen McNicholas, Malcolm O'Connor, Chris Pickering Subs Gary Washington, Chris Smith, Stephen Nolan
 

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