RAMSBOTTOM United ended their run of five matches without a win at the Riverside last night.

Derek Egan's men were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead after just three minutes.

A stumble from Atherton Collieries captain Mark Parry was swiftly pounced upon by leading marksman Michael Saunders, who finished coolly for his eighth goal of the season.

Adam Kozlowski twice went close to extending Ramsbottom's lead. But he was made to pay for not converting those chances as the visitors equalised on nine minutes through Anthony Johnson, after Mark Andrews had parried Nicky Fisher's long range effort.

While the match calmed after an end-to-end start, players on both sides did not, as tetchy interludes plagued the rest of the game.

A hard-line approach from referee Bob Hargreaves to such incidents eventually culminated in Atherton Collieries being reduced to 10 men just before the hour, after Dave Conlon appeared to kick out at Matt

Edgington.

The one-man advantage allowed Rams to press for a winner, but it was Colls who should have taken the lead when Paul Meredith chipped over after dispossessing John Blackley.

That let-off proved crucial, as Saunders sent Edgington clear, and the former Chorley winger expertly slid the ball under the advancing goalkeeper on 71 minutes.

Further frayed tempers among the visiting side resulted in five bookings and the dismissal of manager Alan Lord from the touchline.

This, along with several second half injuries, led to eight minutes of stoppage time being played, during which Keiron Fletcher added the third with a header from fellow substitute John Morris' looping cross.