Atkinson gets it right in the end

AFC ROYTON, thanks to Simon Atkinson’s winner, ruined Whitworth Valley reserves’ unbeaten record in division two of the Rochdale On-line Alliance.

The local outfit, who went in front through Carl Lawton, won 3-2 after repelling a second-half fightback.

Lawton got Royton’s second, only for Valley to draw level courtesy of an Atkinson own goal and a cross which nestled in the top corner of the net.

But he went on to score at the right end, much to the delight of his team-mates, when he headed home Gary Jackson’s free-kick to clinch victory.