Colne maintained their recent good form with a convincing win over an Atherton LR team rejuvenated with an influx of players with higher league experience.
After 10 minutes, Kevin Urwin raced clear down the left but his cross to Liam Garbutt was headed just over the bar.
At the other end, Atherton came close when Chris McDonagh met Matt Eckersley's corner but the ball went narrowly wide.
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But, on 20 minutes, Colne's determination paid dividends when Gavin Cooper burst down the right and when his shot was misskicked by Craig Clare he reacted quickly to tap in past the embarrassed goalkeeper.
However, minutes later, Clare redeemed himself by preventing a second goal when he pulled off a brilliant fingertip save from Garbutt.
In the Colne goal, Chris Brennan did equally well when he came out quickly at the feet of McDonagh to prevent an Atherton equaliser.
In the second-half, Colne should have increased their lead in the opening minute when Garbutt beat his man down the right, but his pin-point cross to Urwin was headed straight at Clare.
Then, on 53 minutes, Urwin made no mistake when he rose above the defence to head Colne's second goal from a well-flighted delivery from Michael Rosser.
With five minutes remaining, Garbutt raced into the area and looked certain to score until he was pulled back by Andy Roscoe.
The resulting penalty by Rosser was brilliantly saved by Chris Brinxman the substitute Atherton goalkeeper.
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