Brigg began the game well with an early attack through the centre but home keeper Ellis Pickard booted the ball away for a throw-in which was then duly cleared.
Scott Phillips tested the goalkeeper with a close-range header which was confidently caught.
The home team’s first threat came after ten minutes of play when Jamie Moxon struck a first-time effort wide of Tom Collins’ goal. A minute later, Martin Pembleton went close for Brigg with a free kick from outside the penalty area, awarded for a foul on Jack Richardson.
Brigg scored the first goal after fifteen minutes from an attack down the right wing. The ball was switched across the penalty area for Luke Sellers, advancing on the left, to strike a sweet shot past Pickard into the corner of the net.
Continuing to press forward, Dayle Hutson fired a shot over the crossbar and a neat first-touch passing move ended with a free kick by Pembleton being cleared from the goal area.
Another shot from Dayle Hutson was tipped over the cross bar and Phillips went close when he headed wide from a right-wing corner as Brigg continued to enjoy most of the possession.
Then, five minutes from half time, a defensive error just outside Brigg’s penalty area allowed the home team to equalise, Ethan Nixon with the easiest of tasks of finding the back of the net from a few yards out.
The second half began with a free kick from the home team which was headed clear by Finn O’Sullivan.
Brigg were awarded a couple of successive free kicks from outside the penalty area but both of these were over-hit and went out of play.
Following a right wing corner, another shot from Pembleton flew past the upright.
As the half progressed, Brigg’s play became less constructive and more frustrating, allowing the home team to seize the initiative.
Play was halted for a five-minute spell when the referee suffered an injury that required treatment.
On resumption of play and into the sixty-eighth minute, Athersley made a rare attack down their left wing where they took advantage of the ample space afforded them for the ball to be pulled back to the edge of the penalty area allowing Liam O’Brien to strike a sweet shot past a diving Collins.
The game became very scrappy thereafter and Athersley held on to their lead until the end for three hard-earned points.
Next Saturday will provide a further difficult test for the Zebras when they travel to face the unbeaten league leaders, Campion, in Bradford.