MIKE Langley's masterclass earned Blues the points.

He wore gloves presented to him before the game as a reward for being voted best custodian in the division for November and his performance suggested they were coated with superglue.

Winsford's number one made a series of outstanding saves.

It wasn't a vintage performance by Blues but they just about deserved victory against a team capable of carving holes in the hosts' defence.

The game began quietly with most of the action confined to midfield but with their first real attempt Winsford scored.

John Bluck's free kick was floated into the box and David Barnes rose highest to make contact with his head. The ball appeared to be looping wide only to drop just inside the post.

Ex-Blue Leon Warmington posed the first threat on the Winsford goal but his header from a corner was inches wide.

On 38 minutes Darren Connell and Lee Madin linked well down the left and the latter was unlucky to see his effort hit the outside of the post.

Atherton began the second half in adventurous mood and after two minutes Nathan Gabriel's free kick was tipped over the bar by Langley.

This proved to be the first of a series of saves, and further efforts by Andy Walker, Neil Davies and Danny Shannon all tested the in-form keeper.

The hosts had their moments too as Lee Duckworth went close on two occasions.

The first was saved by Collieries keeper Gavin Bates before the skipper's set piece scraped the outside of the post.

Atherton might have wondered how they returned home pointless but this was a valuable three points, which moved the Blues into the top six in the table for the first time this season.

Star Man: Michael Langley
BLUES: Langley, Sayer, Duckworth, Barnes, Ridler, Bluck, Owens, Showers, Connell, Madin, Sheppard
Subs not used: Ennion, Callaghan, Kennedy, Calland, Miranda
Attendance: 97.