Maine Road overcame the end of their five-game unbeaten run with victory over lowly Atherton LR at Brantingham Road.

They set about their visitors from the off as James Rothel saw a cross come close to sneaking under the crossbar before exchanging passes with Chris Hirst and Chris Crookes before shooting wide.

Road took a ninth minute lead when Matt Struminskyj found Steve Hibbert.

With his back to goal and a defender tight to him, he flicked the ball over his opponent before collecting it and rifling a shot past the keeper from the edge of the area.

The game continued to be one-way traffic with Atherton disrupted by having to make two substitutions inside the opening 20 minutes.

Robbie Ford came close with a cheeky attempted lob, but the ball did not quite carry over the keeper.

Atherton started the second half in a much more determined mood, pinning Road back and not looking like a team lying fourth bottom of the table.

However, Road rallied and saw a poor touch from Hibbert deny him the chance of a second goal.

With Road back in the ascendancy, Rothel spurned another opportunity before Thomson wasted Atherton’s best chance by running clear, only to scuff his shot.

He was made to pay when Road doubled their lead with time running out.

With Atherton pushing up for one last assault, Road caught them on the break as Liam Beckford ran clear before slotting the ball past Pearson.