Colne 2 Hurst Green 4

Colne suffered defeat against a lively Hurst Green side at Smithy Row on Saturday thanks to two penalties in a volatile second half. The Reds had taken the lead in the first minute and looked in control in the first half before their fortunes changed after the half time interval.

Colne opened the scoring with their first attack of the game when Ben Horne's through ball gave Miles Storey the opening to fire a low shot in off the post of the home goal. But five minutes later, the Reds handed Hurst Green an equaliser when they failed to clear a high cross from a corner which was fired home from close range to level the scores at 1-1.

Colne created a series of good attacks supplying crosses into the Hurst Green area with Luke Stowe and Jack Banks looking likely to add to the scoreline. And Storey came close on the half hour when he broke through but hit the keeper with his well driven shot in a one-on-one.

Colne continued to press before half time with Jamie Walker pushing forward to assist the strikers with some good support play.

The Reds continued to attack as the second half got underway with Stowe's cross just eluding Storey at the far post and Alex Harvey seeing his shot blocked in the Hurst Green goalmouth in a subsequent attack.

But the home side were looking more dangerous and came close on a couple of occasions as the Reds scrambled the ball away from their goalmouth under pressure. And on 66 minutes Hurst Green took the lead at 2-1 when a high cross from a corner was headed home. Five minutes later, Hurst Green were awarded a penalty when Colne keeper Harry Turner was adjudged to have committed a foul when punching a high ball clear from his area. Hurst Green fired home the spot kick to stretch their lead to 3-1.

Colne replied shortly after as Storey broke on a through ball and beat the keeper with a low shot to pull the Reds back into contention at 3-2 down.

After 83 minutes Hurst Green were given another penalty for a trip inside the Colne area and despite the Reds' protests found the net from the spot to extend their lead to 4-2.

A useful run out for a Reds side which was missing several vital players and Colne will look forward to next Saturday when they welcome Woolton to Holt House in the first league game of the season.