Colne got their first point of the season with a well deserved draw at Trafford on Tuesday evening. The Reds took the lead in the first half and created plenty of chances to extend their lead but were pegged back by a Trafford equaliser in an end-to-end second half.
Colne got off to a good start with some promising attacks and after only three minutes Craig Carney saw his looping header come back off the Trafford crossbar with the keeper beaten. As play switched to the other end, Trafford’s forwards tested the Colne defence but Tom Fagan and Glenn Steel made vital stops to prevent an early goal by the home side while Danny Thorpe showed safe handling in the Colne goal.
Colne threatened again as Jack Doherty flashed a diagonal shot across the home goalmouth just eluding Owen Watkinson in front of goal and Adam Mayor’s cross from the corner was cleared by the home defence after a series of shots had been blocked.
In a quick break to the other end, a well struck shot across the Colne goalmouth was just out of the reach of two Trafford men coming in at the far post.
But after 20 minutes, Colne took the lead when Carney dispossessed a Trafford defender just inside his own half and chipped the ball over Trafford keeper Connor Robson from 40 yards out into the empty net.
The Reds pressed forward again looking for a second goal but in a quick counterattack Trafford forced a corner and from the resulting cross Thorpe made a vital save as Ollie Ford tried a well placed shot through a crowd of Colne defenders.
Colne might have increased their lead after 34 minutes when Fagan’s low cross into the six yard box was blasted over the Trafford goal from close range by Doherty.
As the second half began, a good move by Carney and Paul Dugdale gave Carney a sight of goal but he fired just over from 20 yards. And Colne were made to pay for their misses after 56 minutes when a Trafford corner was headed home at the far post by Tom Bentham to level the scores at 1-1. As Trafford were lifted by the goal, Mike Burke broke clear and looked sure to score but Thorpe got down to make a great close range save from his angled shot and deny the Trafford striker. Harry Winstanley worked tirelessly alongside Tom Dean with a series of headed clearances to contain the Trafford attack.
Colne looked to restore their lead with some good attacking moves and Mayor’s head flew just over the bar after 72 minutes before Lucas Weaver made a good run from Thorpe’s long clearance and saw his final shot blocked at the expense of a corner by home keeper Robson.
But as Colne pushed forward, Trafford were quick on the break and Dugdale made a vital tackle to deny Ryan Morton after a speedy counterattack before Thorpe made another good save to keep out a goal-bound shot.
The Reds came close after 84 minutes when Mayor outpaced a home defender with his run to the bye-line and his low cross was cleared from the goalmouth by the Trafford rearguard under pressure.
The performance will build confidence in Phil Brown’s young side as they face the challenge of the coming season.
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