Colne’s pre-season build up continued on Saturday with a local derby played behind closed doors at Barnoldswick Town. The Reds came out on top in an entertaining end-to-end game showing a vital killer instinct in front of goal.
Colne took time to settle into the game, but some long throws by Lee Pugh into the home penalty area were well cleared by the Town defence. And after 22 minutes, Barnoldswick again came close to opening the scoring when Dale got past the advancing Burton and saw his shot cleared off the line by Tom Dean.
Two minutes later Colne settled their nerves when Alex Coleman delivered a high diagonal cross to the far post and Pugh finished with a downward header into the Town net to give the Reds the lead.
Colne pressed forward looking for a second and on the half hour Mamadou Djabi made a good run on the left wing and pulled the ball back for Reece Webb-Foster, who continued through the middle past several defenders before shooting into the roof of the net to double Colne’s lead at 2-0.
Barnoldswick looked to strike back before half time, but found Burton in good form in the Colne goal holding on to a well directed header under his crossbar.
The Reds pressed home their advantage with a third goal in the first minute of the second half. Djabi cut in from the left wing and saw his shot parried by the Barnoldswick keeper, before Billy Hasler-Cregg followed up to fire home the loose ball from close range.
Barnoldswick redoubled their efforts looking to get on the scoresheet, but the Colne defence made some good clearances to deny the Blues on several occasions. On the hour, Dale looked to have a good chance with a dangerous run on the break, but Waqas Azam matched his speed and won the ball with a saving tackle.
Colne gave new keeper Tom Goodwin a run out in the closing stages, but he was rarely troubled by the Town attack and in the last minute of the game the Reds almost added a fourth goal when Spencer Jordan supplied a great cross from the right wing and Webb-Foster saw his shot come back off the post.
It would have been harsh on Barnoldswick who had contributed much to the game with little reward, nevertheless both sides will have found it useful in their build-up to the coming season.
Colne F.C. Line Up:
Burton
Cannon-Noren
Pugh
Tette
Dean
Coleman
Hassler-Cregg
Brown
Djabi
Webb-Foster
Chippendale
Subs:
Dodd
O'Halleron
Jordan
Hodgkinson
Azam
Unsworth
Goodwin (GK)