Colne held promotion chasing Runcorn Linnets to a scoreless draw in their last game of the season on Saturday. The Reds competed well throughout the game and survived a late onslaught by the home side to claim a share of the points.
In the opening stages Colne made some promising attacks with Danny Edwards’ probing runs creating half chances and Oli Roberts and Jack Worrall both had shots blocked on the edge of the Runcorn penalty area.
But a quick break to the other end after seven minutes saw Tom Marsh-Hughes make a penetrating run into the Colne area and shoot narrowly wide. Ten minutes later a long ball down the right wing released Ally Brown for a diagonal run and he shot inches over the Colne goal.
The play was end to end and on 21 minutes Edwards’ run and cross fell to Dean Ing in front of goal but he lifted his shot over the bar from a great chance for the Reds.
As Runcorn pushed forward, Tom Dean and Tommy Lent made vital clearances in the Reds defence and Hakan Burton did well to save a far post header on the line following a Linnets corner to ensure that Colne went in on level terms at half time.
A promising Reds attack after the interval gave Ing a half chance but Linnets keeper Owen Mooney was quickly off his line to claim the high cross off the Colne striker’s head.
But as the game wore on Runcorn became stronger and created a series of goalscoring chances.
Iwan Murray fired a shot just over the Colne goal on 71 minutes before Olapado Olarewaju forced a great save by Burton with a goalbound shot just three minutes later. And as the Linnets continued to press Olapado headed a great chance over the Colne bar with the goal at his mercy.
In a rare Colne attack Kingsley Williams saw his shot saved by Mooney at the foot of the post.
But Burton was much the busier of the two keepers as he parried a shot by Stuart Crilly and recovered quickly the claim the follow-up by Marsh-Hughes in his goalmouth. And on 87 minutes Burton got across to keep out Murray’s goalbound free kick with another outstanding save.
The Reds held on for a hard fought draw to finish the season which has had its ups and downs on a positive note
Comments