Colne got back on the trophy trail with a well deserved win at Kidsgrove Athletic on Monday night. This was their third win in the Buildbase FA Trophy and had been postponed on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch but the Reds refused to let it dampen their spirits and rose to the occasion with a classic display. A single goal on the stroke of half time proved sufficient to win the game in the end but two dramatic penalty misses contributed to the excitement of a see-saw cup tie.
In the opening stages, Kidsgrove enjoyed most of the possession and tested the Colne defence with some dangerous attacks. James Jennings came close for the home side after 12 minutes when his low shot flew just past the far post in a crowded Colne area and three minutes later, Reds keeper Hakan Burton made a good save to keep out a free kick on the edge of his penalty area.
Colne’s first real chance came after 22 minutes when Aidan Chippendale’s shot brought a good save from Grove’s keeper Kieran Harrison to push the ball away at his near post. Seven minutes later, the Reds might have taken the lead when Chippendale’s free kick from the right wing found Andy Hollins’ head at the far post but his header flew inches over the bar of the home goal.
Colne pressed forward with more good attacking moves and Joe Coveney saw his shot blocked in the penalty area after Will Harris created the opportunity with a cross from the left wing. But with half time approaching, it was Kidsgrove who stepped up the pressure on the Colne goal with a series of corners and Burton made a vital save to keep out James Butler’s diving header when a cross reached him in the Colne goalmouth.
As play swung to the other end, the Reds looked to hit back and Chippendale’s powerful shot on the turn brought a great save from Harrison to push the ball round the post. From the resulting corner, Harrison punched the ball away but was left stranded when Max Hazeldine returned it with a curling cross for Hollins to send a looping header into the net out of the keeper’s reach and give Colne the lead on the stroke of half time.
Kidsgrove looked to reduce the arrears early in the second half as Kingsley Adu Gyamfi created space in the Reds penalty area with some dazzling footwork before Lee Williamson drove a low shot across the face of the Colne goal and just wide of the far post.
But Colne began to take control and after 57 minutes, won a penalty when Coveney’s quick turn on the bye line forced Richard Duffy to handle the ball. But Chippendale’s well placed shot from the spot was saved by Harrison diving to his right and the Reds missed their chance to double their lead.
Colne kept up the pressure and ten minutes later, Harrison made a fingertip save to keep out Coveney’s curling shot which was bound for the top corner of his goal. But Kidsgrove were still dangerous on the break and Burton made a vital save when Jennings made a strong run into the Colne penalty area and unleashed a goal bound shot.
As the final whistle approached an end-to-end move saw Lee Pugh send Harris away with a through ball but again Harrison produce a good save to keep out his shot. And with the game in injury time, Kidsgrove won a penalty for a push in the back in the area. But as the Reds contemplated the possibility of a replay, Lewis Burgin blasted the spot kick high over the bar in a dramatic finish to the game.
The win means that Colne will now face Buxton at the Sovereign Play Stadium on Saturday 9th November in the next round.