Pond's debut goal set up a grandstand finish after Elliot Rokka and Aaron Smith had put the visitors 2-0 ahead.

Prior to the game getting underway, the Sir Tom Finney Stadium observed a minute's silence for Preston North End owner Trevor Hemmings, who sadly passed away on Monday evening at the age of 86.

Rokka had the first clear cut opening of the match on seven minutes, and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give Atherton the advantage.

Brig then came close to an equaliser on 22 minutes, Fin Sinclair-Smith's effort being well kept out by Luke Hutchinson.

Minutes later, Sheldon Green's effort was deflected narrowly wide of the post, before Atherton's defence made several last-ditch blocks to deny Jamie Milligan's side from levelling the scores.

On 38 minutes, the referee deemed that Mark Yeates and Collieries forward Marcus Cusani had committed red card offences after a coming together, and sent both players off.

That was the last action of the first half, with Brig starting the brightest in the opening exchanges of the second half.

Sinclair-Smith was again involved in the action, this time seeing his wonder strike superbly tipped over the bar by Hutchinson.

At the other end, Matty Thomson made a vital block to deny Aaron Smith's driven effort at the near post.

The visitors then made it 2-0 on 76 minutes, Smith receiving the ball inside the area before getting enough on it to send it into the back of the net.

Brig pulled one back on 89 minutes when Pond managed to connect with a long-distance free kick, before Apter saw his shot saved by Hutchinson in the closing moments of five added minutes.

That was, however, to be the last action of the game. Brig remain in fourth in the NPL Premier Division table despite defeat, with a trip to Stalybridge Celtic next Saturday the next fixture on the calendar for Jamie Milligan's side.