Colne earned their first point of the season with a hard fought draw at Prestwich Heys on Saturday. A fighting performance saw them come from behind with a penalty just before half time and despite missing a chance to take the lead from the spot early in the second half they turned in a defiant defensive performance to deny the home side in the later stages.
Colne made a bright start and soon settled into the game with some promising attacks. Josh Green found space on the left wing and provided good crosses into the home penalty area with Kyle Preece heading just over the goal after six minutes. Sam Langford’s cross was punched clear by the keeper three minutes later.
As Colne’s dominance continued, a diagonal free kick by Jordyn Fitton reached Mo Butt at the far post for a diving header which was well saved by the keeper on the line and the rebound was cleared by the home defence after 20 minutes.
Prestwich replied with attacks of their own and Harry Allen in the Colne goal made a great save to block a close range shot on the goal-line. And after 25 minutes, Prestwich took the lead. A free kick played into the Reds penalty area fell to Dylan Fitzgerald who fired the ball into the top corner of the Colne net with a shot on the turn.
As Prestwich looked for a second goal, Allen did well to punch a shot away from under his crossbar before Cameron Bradbury-Allen cleared the follow-up off the goal-line.
As Colne regained control, Green saw his shot pushed away by the home keeper with a good save. Then after 40 minutes Fitton and Green linked well on the left wing to provide a low cross for Noel Brindle in the home area and he was brought down by a tackle from behind giving the Reds a penalty. Preece stepped up to convert the spot kick to send Colne in at half time on level terms.
As the second half began, Colne were handed a great opportunity to take the lead when Butt was brought down on a run into the home penalty area in the Reds first attack. But Preece shot wide of the right hand post with his spot kick.
Colne looked capable of taking the lead with some good attacks with Shak Ali heading just over the bar in a period of pressure by the Reds. But as the half wore on, Prestwich began to look more dangerous and Allen was called into action on several occasions advancing from his area to tackle Heys’ dangerous winger Luc Ferry to cut out a home attack.
Allen was again in action blocking a goal-bound shot after 65 minutes and then taking a high cross under pressure. And further saves by Allen plus some wild finishing by the home side kept Colne in the game.
Colne’s substitutes steadied the ship with Niall Moran making good attacking moves on the right wing to create some good counterattacks for the Reds. And his cross in the closing minutes reached Ali at the far post but his shot on the volley went just wide of the Prestwich goal.
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