Bamber Bridge 4 Colne 3

Colne bowed out of the Lancashire Challenge Trophy at the first round on Tuesday night despite a fighting performance against Bamber Bridge who are three leagues above them. The Reds matched their opponents throughout the game and were on level terms until the home side scored a late winner with only six minutes left.

The game began at a fast pace with both sides committed to attack and Colne debutant Harry Lynn fired just over the Bamber Bridge crossbar after ten minutes. The Reds defended well as the home team pushed forward with Billy Bould looking to shoot at every opportunity. And although Danny Jackson restricted him to few opportunities, he was powerless to prevent the Brig striker from firing a shot into the bottom corner of the Colne goal to give his side the lead after 20 minutes.

Bould came close after 36 minutes when Colne keeper Harry Turner made a great save to turn his 20 yard shot round the post for a corner. While at the other end Lynn came close for the Reds when his shot was blocked by Brig keeper Charlie Clark and the loose ball was cleared from the goalmouth by a defender. And some further pressure by the Reds leading up to half time had the home side defending desperately as Luke Stowe saw his shot blocked in a crowded penalty area.

As the second half began, Stowe provided a chance for Ben Horne with a low cross on the edge of the home area but his well struck shot flew inches over the crossbar. And as Colne continued to attack, Barney Wiggin found the net with a shot from inside the home area to level the scores at 1-1 after 50 minutes.

As the home team created pressure in the Colne area, Archie Lang fired home from close range to restore Brig's advantage at 2-1. But within a minute Colne levelled the scores again as Wiggin helped the ball on for Lynn who flicked it past the keeper and into the net for 2-2.

In a hectic exchange of attacks, Wiggin cleared a goal-bound shot off the Colne goal-line while at the other end Lennie Halstead's shot was blocked in the home area. And Brig took the lead once again when Jack Baxter curled a free kick into the top corner of the Reds goal for 3-2 on the hour.

Six minutes later, Colne levelled the scores once again at 3-3 when a corner to the near post was knocked home by Wiggin in a crowd of players. After 75 minutes, the Reds came close when a high free kick into the Brig goalmouth was headed by Josh Talks and the ball was knocked against the post by the keeper before being cleared.

With the game heading for penalties, Brig grabbed the winner when James Butterworth forced the ball home in a crowded goalmouth after a penetrating run along the bye line.

It was a creditable performance by the Reds in a highly competitive and entertaining game