ATHERTON LR's plight is beginning to look desperate.

They crashed 4-1 at Matlock Town on Saturday and the worries were multiplied by the second half sending off of Kenny Quigg and Tony Pemberton.

LR manager Dave Morris gave a debut to goalkeeper Danny Embleton, the former Liverpool junior signed from Bamber Bridge.

Amazingly, before he had even touched the ball in open play, Rovers were 2-0 down.

Lee Cryer had a stunning first minute effort saved while Mark Stewart hit a post and also brought a good save out of the keeper before half-time.

Quigg and Pemberton were dismissed on 60 and 65 minutes respectively, both for second bookings and both able to claim that not one of the offences had truly deserved a yellow card.

Darren Royle came on for Mark Henshaw, and within moments his header rebounded off a post for Lee Cryer to tap in.

Nine-man LR chased the game but fell to two further late sucker punches.

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