Barnoldswick T 1 Colne 2

Colne progressed to the next round of the FA Vase with a hard fought win against Barnoldswick Town at the Silentnight Stadium on Saturday. The Reds bossed the first half against their higher league opponents and led by two goals at the half way stage but were made to fight all the way as the home side came back strongly after the interval.

Colne started brightly with Corey Adams and Barney Wiggin finding gaps in the Barnoldswick defence. But Barlick keeper James Whittingham coped well as he was tested by some speculative shots by the Reds. At the other end after 18 minutes Christian Edokpayi headed just wide of the Colne goal as a searching cross reached him at the far post. And two minutes later, Barlick came even closer to an opening goal as another long cross hit the far post before being cleared from the goalmouth by Lewis Nolan.

After 28 minutes, Colne were awarded a penalty when Adams challenged the Barlick keeper for a 50-50 ball and was brought down when he looked about to score. Whittingham received a red card for the challenge and Wiggin fired the resulting spot kick past the subsititute keeper to give Colne the lead.

Three minutes later, Colne doubled their lead when Sam Lloyd's cross was half cleared to Adams who fired home from the edge of the area through a disorganised Barlick defence. And as the Reds continued to press, they had the ball in the net again minutes later only to be denied by an offside flag.

Barnoldswick regrouped at half time and won a penalty on 53 minutes for a trip in the Colne area but Reds keeper Will Handley made a vital save diving to his right to keep out Kuda Chingwaro's shot from the spot. Jack Banks received a red card for his reaction reducing Colne to ten men.

Barlick pushed forward and Colne needed to defend as Chingwaro made dangerous runs into the Reds penalty area. And after 76 minutes, Chingwaro headed just wide as a long high cross reached him at the far post. Three minutes later, Barlick reduced the arrears when Harley Lawton's high cross from the left wing dipped under the bar of the Colne goal past the outstretched fingertips of Handley.

Colne looked to restore their cushion with Jamie Walker making good runs into the Barlick area and headers by Wiggin and Joe Pennington flew just wide of the goal in a series of breakaway attacks by the Reds. But Barlick still pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages and Handley made a vital double save on the stroke of full time to keep the ball out of the Colne net and secure a well earned win and a place in the next round for the Reds.