ATHERTON Collieries head into their reunion with former boss Michael Clegg after an eventful week on and off the field.

Colls played out a remarkable 2-2 draw with National League leaders Barrow in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night with a replay in Cumbria to come early in the new year.

The club then tied down captain Danny Lafferty and Gaz Peet to new contracts until the summer of 2021 with a trip to Ashton United on the horizon tomorrow.

Clegg swapped the Skuna Stadium for Hurst Cross after a remarkable run with Colls as they were promoted to the BetVictor Premier Division to reach their highest ever position in the football pyramid.

This weekend he will be taking charge of the Robins for just the second time having also taken players Ben Hardcastle, last year’s BetVictor League North West Division player of the year, and Michael Brewster with him from Atherton.

Colls, under new boss Brad Cooke, however have been boosted by keeping hold of two key men, Lafferty in particular drawing plenty of plaudits for the way he helped guide the club through a tough period following Clegg’s shock departure to an outfit with big ambitions.

“I’m really pleased to be committing to Colls for the remainder of this season and next season,” he said.

“Although I was gutted about Cleggy and his staff leaving, this just feels like home to me and I couldn’t see myself playing my football anywhere else at this moment in time.

“The club has a special place in my heart, the lads are a special bunch and with Brad coming in as manager I’m sure that isn’t going to change.

“We are on a good run at the moment and the fans have been first class so I’d like to say thank you for that on behalf of the boys and let’s keep this run going.”

Peet is another key man and echoed the thoughts of the skipper as Colls continue to establish themselves in the Premier Division.

“I’m so proud to have signed a contract at Colls,” he said.

“As everybody knows the club means a lot to me and my family and I’m looking forward to continuing to give everything for the club and the fans.

“Thanks to you all for the support you have always shown me.

“I’ve got no doubt we will continue to progress.”

Former favourite Kris Holt also returned to the Skuna Stadium earlier in the week.

Following Cooke and assistant Rob Sadler from West Didsbury and Chorlton, Holt’s last appearance in a Colls’ shirt was in November 2017 before joining Runcorn Linnets.

After finishing last season in sixth place in Division One West, he left the ’Corn to join his former team-mates as they started their managerial journey at West.

Holt made his debut on Tuesday, playing the final 10 minutes against Barrow, as the black and white stripes put in a Herculean effort against the side currently top of the pile in non-league football.

Ben Conway volleyed home the opener just two minutes in as Colls impressed in the first period against a rotated Barrow side.

The hosts then felt they were denied a clear penalty early in the second half when Tom Bentham was felled in the box before the Cumbrians levelled with Jack Hindle converting from close range.

The Skuna fell flat for a few minutes until Vinny Bailey curled home a beauty to give Colls the advantage once again as the game ebbed and flowed.

Celebrations were cut short as Bentham was sent off for a second yellow card for kicking the ball away during the aftermath of the second goal.

It was then backs to the wall stuff for Cooke’s side but they could do nothing about Morgan Penfold’s fine strike.

Ian Evatt’s team then thought they had won it late on only for Greg Hartley to pull off a fine save to deny Oli Dyson.

The replay at Holker Street takes place on January 7.