Colne got off to a positive start in their pre-season friendlies with a well earned win against league two opponents Salford City on Saturday. The game was played behind closed doors due to covid 19 restrictions, but the commitment by both teams provided a very useful and entertaining game.
In a bright opening start Colne took the lead after only seven minutes when Mamadou Djabi won the ball off a hesitant Salford defender and quickly found Charlie Russell with a low pass inside for Russell to fire home from 20 yards.
Salford, who fielded a team made up mainly of trialists, came back with some good attacks moving the ball well in the Colne half, but the Reds defence looked well organised and at the other end Sam O’Halleron shot narrowly wide after a good run through the visitors defence.
However, Salford drew level on 23 minutes when a challenge just inside the Colne area won them a penalty and the spot kick was well despatched for an equaliser at 1-1.
The Reds pressed forward again looking to restore their lead and forced a series of corners which the visitors defended well. But on 34 minutes Djabi again won the ball off a defender and this time took it forward himself before firing past the keeper to put the Reds 2-1 ahead.
Colne came close with their next attack when Aidan Chippendale slipped through the Salford defence and saw his close range shot turned past the post by a good save by the keeper.
Changes to the teams at half time produced a different second half as Salford tightened up their defence and looked to dominate midfield. The Colne defence was tested on several occasions but held firm with captain Alex Coleman making some strong clearances.
However, Salford got their reward on 77 minutes when a barrage of shots was cleared from the Reds goalmouth before a well struck follow up found its way inside the far post for an equaliser at 2-2. At this stage Salford looked favourites as they looked for a winner, but Colne came back in the closing minutes.
With five minutes left Reece Webb-Foster was denied by a great save after Billy HaslerCregg had opened up the Salford defence. Then on the stroke of full time a long throw into the area by Lee Pugh gave the Reds another opportunity. And when the ball was half cleared Webb-Foster drove an unstoppable shot into the net from twelve yards to give Colne a well deserved 3-2 win.
Colne F.C. Team:
Burton
Cannon-Noren
Pugh
Russell
Trialist
Coleman (c)
Hassler-Cregg
Brown
Djabi
O'Halleron
Chippendale
Subs:
Dean
Azam
Webb-Foster
Hodgkinson (trialist)
Trialist
Jordan (trialist)
Dodd