Two goals by Will Harris were not enough to save Colne from a 3-2 defeat at bottom club Pickering Town on Saturday. Despite taking an early lead, the Reds had a man sent off and were unable to contain some lively attacking play by the home side.
Colne had a great start to the game and went in front after only five minutes when Max Hazeldine’s pass found Harris in the penalty area and he scored with a low shot past the keeper.
But Colne’s joy was short-lived as the match turned around within the next three minutes. Firstly central defender Andy Hollins received a straight red card for a lunging tackle that denied Pickering a scoring opportunity according to the referee. Then from the free kick, Pickering levelled the scores through Jackson Jowett after the ball rebounded from the Colne crossbar.
Pickering were lifted by the goal and pressed forward with more dangerous attacks. The Reds defence cleared a series of balls into their goalmouth from the wings as the home side looked to take advantage of the reshuffled Colne rearguard.
With half time approaching, it was Colne who created chances at the other end and Hazeldine’s through ball released Harris into the area before his well struck shot brought a great save from Pickering keeper Harrison Foulkes to knock the ball wide of his goal. And in the Reds the next attack, Brad Knox saw his 30 yard shot deflected for a corner by a defender in the area.
As the second half began, the ten men of Colne looked to create a chance to regain the lead with Lee Pugh and Aidan Chippendale finding space up the left wing and Billy Hasler-Cregg making lightning runs on the right.
But Pickering threatened on the counterattack in the end-to-end play and on the hour won a free kick for a strong tackle by Knox 20 yards from goal and Iwan Heeley found the bottom corner of the Colne net with a low shot to give the home side the lead at 2-1.
Colne continued to attack looking for an equaliser but received another blow after 73 minutes when Soni Fergus went down under challenge in the Colne box giving Pickering a penalty. Heeley fired home the spot kick to give his side a 3-1 lead.
The Reds fought on bravely and Chippendale’s angled shot had Foulkes scrambling to hold the ball in his muddy goalmouth. With ten minutes left, Colne pulled a goal back when Hasler-Cregg’s tireless run up the right wing gave Harris a sight of goal and his diagonal shot beat Foulkes to finish in the far corner of the Pickering net.
Colne continued to press for an equaliser and a series of long throws by Pugh had the home defence under pressure but Pickering held out with some strong defending to deny the Reds any reward from the game.