Colne suffered a narrow defeat in the first round of the Integro League Cup at Lancaster City on Tuesday night. Despite competing well throughout the game and scoring an equaliser on the half hour, they eventually went down to a second half goal.
Colne took time to settle into the game and Lancaster created the better chances in the opening period. After 15 minutes, a Lancaster diagonal free kick was played to the far post and when the Reds defence failed to clear the loose ball, it was knocked into the net by Lewis Fensome to give the Blues the lead.
Colne were stung into action and looked for a quick reply as Aidan Chippendale’s searching cross found Sefton Gonzales in the home penalty area but Lancaster keeper Max Povey blocked his shot and cleared the danger with the help of a defender.
In the end-to-end play, Ben Hudson flashed a glancing header just wide of the Colne goal while at the other end, another Chippendale cross just eluded Gonzales in front of Lancaster’s goal. On the half hour, the Reds drew level when a superb curling cross by Billy Hasler-Cregg was headed home by Jack Lynch.
Colne created further chances and Morgan Homson-Smith curled a free kick just over the bar before Chippendale’s corner just eluded Andy Hollins at the far post of the home goal. And on the stroke of half time, the Reds might have taken the lead when great work by Gonzales opened up the Lancaster defence and a superb through ball released Chippendale into the home penalty area. But again Povey was off his line quickly to block the shot.
As the second half began, both sides looked for a second goal and Kieran Feeney forced a good save from Hakan Burton in the Colne goal before Homson-Smith broke clear at the other end and was denied by Povey with a good block in his goalmouth.
But on the hour, Lancaster regained the lead when Feeney picked up a loose ball in the midfield and found the net with a dipping 20 yard shot over Burton in the Colne goal.
Once again Colne looked for a reply with Max Hazeldine and Will Harris pushing forward and creating chances in the home penalty area. But Lancaster defended well and threatened at the other end with some good attacking play late on.
The Reds will look forward to the FA Trophy on Saturday when the face Southport FC at the Sovereign Play Stadium.