Colliery made a handful of changes following last week’s six-goal thriller at South Leeds, the most notable being the inclusion of 16-year-old Charlie Freebury, who made his league debut between the sticks after Ryan Musselwhite picked up an injury. Harry Brown also returned to the starting XI after a short spell on the sidelines.

Athersley Recreation arrived at the Chesterfield Poultry Stadium seeking revenge after their opening-day defeat to Colliery back in July. The visitors came into the fixture having lost three of their previous five league games and currently sitting in the relegation places.

Thorne made a bright start and quickly took control of possession, with chances coming thick and fast. James Baxendale went close early on, firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area, before another effort forced a smart save from the Athersley goalkeeper minutes later.

The pressure finally told in the 24th minute when Luke Williams was brought down in the box, earning Colliery a penalty. Williams stepped up himself and calmly converted to give the hosts a deserved 1–0 lead.

The game then settled for a short spell with few clear-cut chances, but just before the break Marc Newsham doubled the advantage, finishing off a well-worked team move to send Thorne into the interval two goals to the good.

Half-time: Club Thorne Colliery 2–0 Athersley Recreation

The home side carried their momentum into the second half and continued to look the more threatening. Williams delivered a dangerous ball into the box early on, with Newsham firing just wide from a tight angle before being replaced by young striker James Simmonite.

Colliery found their third in the 70th minute in fortuitous fashion, as Luke Williams’ corner evaded everyone and went straight into the net to make it 3–0.

Athersley enjoyed a brief spell of pressure in the closing stages, with Charlie Freebury producing a series of assured saves and showing maturity beyond his years to deny the visitors. The away side did manage to pull one back in the 86th minute, but it proved little more than a consolation.

Deep into stoppage time, Athersley were handed a lifeline when Will Gomes was penalised in the area, but the resulting penalty was fired over the bar, rounding off the final action of the contest.

Colliery saw out the remaining moments to secure a deserved victory in front of their home support.

Full-time: Club Thorne Colliery 3–1 Athersley Recreation

Man of the Match: Louis Seddons sponsored by Mailroom Machines

Club Thorne Colliery – Charlie Freebury, James Baxendale, Harry Brown, Alexander Peterson, Louis Seddons, Reiss Harrison (81’ Hakkinen Anani), Marc Newsham (44’) (64’ James Simmonite), Luke Williams (pen 24’, 71’), Ethan Harrison (65’ William Gomes), Jacob Robinson (80’ Ben Stobart), Andrew Wright (80’ Lewis Twibell). Substitutes: Ben Stobart, William Gomes, James Simmonite, Lewis Twibell, Hakkinen Anani.

Athersley Recreation – Paul Diamond, Billy McDonald, Lleyton Schofield (54’ Joshua Berry), James Byford (76’ Hayden Swift), Arran Turner, Luca Cancello (54’ Danilo Mossolo), Jimmy Persell (75’ Jayden Roberts), James Woodhouse, Kane Reece (87’), Tom Mestre (75’ Bailey Wright), Keenan Davies-Mosley. Substitutes: Joshua Berry, Hayden Swift, Jayden Roberts, Bailey Wright, Danilo Mossolo.