Colne took all three points in a fighting display against FC St Helens at the Haffners Stadium on Saturday to lift themselves two points clear of the drop zone. The Reds worked hard on a heavy pitch and rode their luck at times including a penalty save by their hero of the hour keeper Harry Turner. But no-one could deny that they deserved the win as they held on in a nail-biting finish.
St Helens made the brighter start to the game and tested the Colne defence with some dangerous attacks and Thomas McNamara came close to opening the scoring after 11 minutes when his header flashed inches past the post of the Colne goal. And Dan Maher did well to clear a low cross from the Colne goalmouth in a subsequent attack by the visitors.
But at the other end, Miles Storey’s cross from the left wing gave Alfie Walker a sight of goal and his shot was blocked for a corner which was cleared by the visitors’ defence after 15 minutes. Ten minutes later, Colne attacked through Storey on the left wing once again and his well struck cross found Jude Entwistle for a glancing header at the near post into the net to give Colne the lead
St Helens looked for a quick reply as Mc Namara’s run took him through the Colne defence but Turner came out to dive at his feet and claim the ball with a vital save. In the end-to-end play Louis Sharp’s cross was headed away from the Colne goalmouth by Charlie Whiteoak while at the other end Jack Holt forced a great save from Saints keeper James McClenaghan to turn his 20 yard shot over the bar.
With half time approaching, Jak McKInlay won the ball off the Saints defenders and raced clear but pulled his shot wide of goal with only the keeper to beat.
St Helens pushed forward in the second half and Shak Ali made a vital clearance off the Colne goal-line after McNamara’s run into the Colne area. And after 56 minutes, Joe Barker’s penetrating run took him through the Reds defence and he went down under a challenge by Turner to give the Saints a penalty. But Barker’s spot kick brought a great save from Turner to push the ball away from the foot of the post and preserve Colne’s lead.
Colne’s joy was short-lived as St Helens levelled the scores with their next attack when a cross from the right wing was turned into his own net by Whiteoak under pressure.
The Reds looked to restore their lead and after 66 minutes with the Saints defence stretched Storey burst into the penalty area to the left of goal and his low cross found Walker in the goalmouth who fired home from close range for Colne’s second goal.
St Helens again looked for an equaliser and Connor Spiers’ low shot from the right wing hit the far post before being cleared by the Colne defence after 80 minutes. But Colne came close when Holt’s 20 yard free kick forced a good save from Saints keeper McClenaghan to push the ball away from the bottom corner of his goal in the closing minutes of the game.
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