Colne 1 Woolton 3

Colne started the season on the back foot as they went down to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Merseyside rivals Woolton on Saturday at the DM Pies Stadium. The Reds fought hard to get a foothold in the game but played second fiddle to their opponents for most of the afternoon.

There looked to be little between the two sides in the opening stages as Colne made some sporadic attacks with Ben Horne finding room for a searching cross that went begging across the Woolton goalmouth

But Woolton began to take control of the midfield and build some good attacks. And after 22 minutes, they came close when Oghenetega Okeregha cut in from the left wing and saw his goal-bound shot deflected wide of the far post by Colne keeper Harry Turner.

Woolton continued to attack at every chance and forced a series of corners which the Reds were at full stretch to clear. And after 28 minutes, a long high cross reached Jacob Barratt beyond the far post and his header found the net through the group of bodies on the goal-line to give the visitors the lead. Eight minutes later, the Colne goal came under pressure once more as a series of crosses into their penalty area were only half cleared and Daniel Ventre headed in at the far post to double Woolton's lead.

On the stroke of half time, the visitors came close again when a long high cross from the left wing came back off the Colne crossbar and Turner made a good save to keep out the follow up shot as the ball fell to a Woolton forward.

Colne emerged in a more determined mood after the interval and Luke Stowe made a good run through the middle of the visitors' defence setting up the chance for Miles Storey to fire home past the keeper and reduce the arrears to 1-2 after 50 minutes.

Two minutes later, a Colne free kick gave Storey sight of goal as the Reds looked for an equaliser but his well struck shot was saved by the keeper. But Colne conceded again on the hour when Matthew Robinson made a penetrating run through the Reds defence and found the net with a good finish to restore Woolton's two goal cushion.Colne pushed forward with some promising attacks as Jack Banks linked with team-mates to create a series of half chances around the visitors' penalty area. But the Woolton defence stood firm and rode their luck in the closing minutes when a 20 yard shot by Corey Adams came back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

The Reds will hope to step up their performance on Tuesday evening when they welcome Darwen to Holt House.