"THERE are games when you just have to put your cards on the table and say you were outclassed," admitted Atherton Colls manager Chris O'Brien on Tuesday night after a 6-0 NWCL Division One defeat at Newcastle Town.

"They were terrific. We just got nowhere near them. Their passing of the ball was the best I've seen this season. Hopefully our lads will have learned from that experience.

"We were a bit deflated after the game but we have to take the positives out of it and move forward. Confidence is low at the moment so we've got to settle down and work hard.

"We have players coming back into contention over the next couple of weeks so one or two in the current squad will have to be looking over their shoulders and knowing they have to pick their game up to stay involved." Tomorrow Colls head south again for a game at Kidsgrove Athletic. Full back Dougie Owen and midfielders Chris Smith and Paul Griffin return with O'Brien having also persuaded former Bolton Wanderer Gary Henshaw to make a playing return to the club.