Colne secure all 3 points at home

Colne came from two goals down to snatch a late winner against Charnock Richard at the Haffners Stadium on Saturday. The Reds conceded two goals midway through the first half but were level by the interval and secured the three points in the closing stages of an exciting second half.

The opening stages saw some end-to-end play and Colne came close on 11 minutes when Connor High cut into the penalty area from the left wing and saw his well struck shot blocked by visiting keeper Ryan Hamer with a good save.

At the other end, Charnock Richard forced a series of corners and took the lead after 21 minutes when a high cross was headed into his own net by a Colne defender attempting to clear the ball. The visitors doubled their lead just one minute later when Jordan Darr took advantage of a defensive lapse to cut in from the right wing and find the net with a low shot past the exposed Colne keeper Harry Turner.

The visitors looked to be in control at this stage but Colne fought hard to get a foothold in the game and after 33 minutes Miles Storey’s cross from the left wing into the area brought a diving header by Rio McEvoy which was blocked on the line with a good save by Hamer before Jude Entwistle followed up to fire home the rebound.

The Reds pushed forward looking for a second goal and Storey’s angled shot flew inches over the crossbar before Hamer did well to clear the ball off Entwistle’s head from Jordyn Fitton’s cross. On the stroke of half time, Alex-Ray Harvey was brought down on his run into the visitors’ area giving Colne a penalty and Entwistle fired the spot kick into the bottom corner of the net for an equaliser at 2-2.

Colne emerged in a more positive mood in the second half and mounted a series of good attacks. A 20 yard free kick by Connor High brought a great save by Hamer after 50 minutes and eight minutes later Entwistle’s chip left the keeper stranded but the ball came back off the crossbar to frustrate the Reds striker.

Colne won their second penalty on the hour when Connor High was brought down in the area but Entwistle saw his spot kick well saved by Hamer. Charnock Richard were reduced to ten men when Lewis Haydock was sent off during the penalty incident.

The visitors looked to hit back with some attacks on the break and Darr shot wide from a great chance after 66 minutes in a let-off for the Reds. But Colne still pressed forward looking for a winner and Storey had a close range shot blocked in the visitors’ goalmouth after 72 minutes. After 85 minutes, Charnock threatened again when a high cross to the far post found the head of Fenton Davies but his header was held on the line by Turner.

On 88 minutes, Colne substitute Dominic Richmond found space on the right wing for a cross into the visitors’ goalmouth and Jak McKinlay dived in to force the ball over the line for the Reds winning goal.