Colne earned a replay in their Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie at South Shields on Saturday. The Reds faced a tough battle against their higher league opponents but defended well throughout and might have snatched a win with a handful of good chances.
In the opening stages, South Shields had the majority of the possession but their shooting was off target and failed to trouble Hakan Burton in the Colne goal.
Colne’s first real chance came after 20 minutes when Sefton Gonzales cut in from the left wing and saw his shot blocked by the keeper at the near post and cleared by defenders from the goalmouth. Billy Hasler-Cregg worked hard on the left wing to supply crosses into the box but the home defence cleared the danger on several occasions.
With half time approaching, Connor Hughes saw his shot blocked by a crowd of defenders in the South Shields penalty area and then had a further opportunity from a free kick on the edge of the area but lifted his shot over the bar.
In the second half, South Shields stepped up the pressure but the Colne defence responded with some determined defending to keep out a series of dangerous attacks. Alex Coleman and Andy Hollins repeatedly cleared balls from the Colne goalmouth as the South Shields attack stretched the Reds defence with crosses from both wings.
After 73 minutes, the South Shields crowd of over a thousand celebrated when they thought they had taken the lead with the ball in the bottom corner of the net in a crowded goalmouth but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Colne’s chances were few and far between and after 81 minutes claims for a penalty when Will Harris went down in the Shields area only earned the Colne striker a yellow card for simulation. But in the closing minutes of the game, Gonzales had a great chance to win it for Colne as he burst into the home penalty area but was denied as he tried to turn past the last defender.
And, as play switched to the other end, Burton made a great save to turn a goal bound shot past the top corner of his goal to keep the scoresheet blank and ensure a replay on Tuesday night.
Colne Team
Hakan Burton
Waqas Azam
Lee Pugh
Alex Coleman (C)
Andy Hollins
Marcus Poscha
Tony Donaldson
Connor Hughes
Sefton Gonzales
Max Hazeldine
Billy Hasler-Cregg
Brad Knox
Joe Rothwell
Reece Webb-Foster
Will Harris
Aidan Chippendale