HYDE UNITED 1 - 1 COLNE F.C.
Colne kicked off their friendlies with a visit to Hyde United on Tuesday night and their impressive performance will have given manager Steve Cunningham cause for optimism for the coming season.
The Reds dominated the game for long periods and their new signings blended well and looked assured throughout the game. The scoreline of one goal each flattered the home side and Colne should have won by a comfortable margin on the night.
The Reds pushed forward from the kick off with some good attacks and almost took the lead after eight minutes when new signing Aiden Chippendale rattled the home crossbar with a 25 yard free kick with the keeper beaten. Four minutes later, Colne came close again when Lee Pugh’s long throw was headed on by Sefton Gonzales and brought an acrobatic save from Tigers keeper James Hodges to turn the ball over the bar. And as Colne continued to create chances, Tony Donaldson laid the ball back for Max Hazeldine to drive a shot inches past the post.
As Hyde came more into the game, Joel Logan threatened with some good runs on the left wing but his dangerous cross was headed away by Alex Coleman and Andy Hollins was on hand to cut out an inviting through ball by Kyle Brownhill.
But Colne were still dominant and Hazeldine headed just over the bar when Chippendale’s diagonal free kick reached him at the far post after 35 minutes and Hazeldine came close again after 42 minutes when Hodges got down well to save his close range shot in the home goalmouth.
Two minutes before half time, the Reds suffered a setback when Tom Pratt made a run into the Colne area and went down easily under challenge giving Hyde a penalty kick. Jack Dyche fired home the resulting spot kick to give the home side an unexpected lead at half time.
A handful of substitutions meant a reshuffled side for the second half and once the Reds settled they again took control of the game. Reece Webb-Foster saw his powerful shot blocked in the penalty area after 63 minutes and two minutes later, Connor Hughes saw his shot deflected for a corner after Billy Hasler-Clegg had released him with a superb through ball. The resulting corner was hooked against the bar in a crowd of players and fell to Webb-Foster to score from close range to level the scores at 1-1.
As Hyde looked to restore their lead, Pratt shot just wide of the Colne goal after a penetrating run across the penalty area after 70 minutes and two minutes later, Pratt broke through the middle and was denied by Hakan Burton as he got down to block his shot in the penalty area.
In the closing stages the Reds looked for a winner and Chippendale’s diagonal free kick fell to Matty Makinson in the home goalmouth but his goal-bound shot was straight at keeper Hodges who showed good reflexes to hold on to the ball.
With three minutes left, a Colne corner was half cleared to Webb-Foster who took the ball forward before blasting a shot goalward which was blocked by a defender’s hand in the penalty area. Pugh took the resulting spot kick but was denied by Hodges who dived to his right to hold on to the ball on the line and ensure that honours ended even.