Colne 1 Maine Road 3

Colne slipped to defeat against Maine Road at the DM Pies Stadium on Tuesday night. The Reds battled hard throughout but after a goal-less first half the visitors gave them a lesson in finishing as they found the net three times.

Both sides looked to attack in the opening stages and Colne coped well to soak up some early pressure from the visitors with Reds keeper Harry Turner showing some safe handling behind his defenders. And at the other end, visitors' keeper George Byrne did well to deny Alex Harvey under pressure from a high ball into his goalmouth.

Colne began to build some good attacks towards half time and Jack Banks saw his shot blocked in the visitors' area before the Reds won a free kick 20 yards out but Miles Storey's well driven shot was blocked by the defensive wall. Luke Stowe fired just wide of the near post after a good passing move released him into the visitors' area and again Harvey's shot was blocked by defenders as he met a half clearance on the edge of the area.

Two minutes after the interval, Maine Road took the lead when Siraj Hussein went clear into the Colne area and his shot was pushed away by Turner who then blocked the follow-up before Lewis McGill fired home the loose ball. Eight minutes later, Maine Road doubled their lead when Ashley Cata found the net with a looping diagonal shot that dipped under the crossbar at the far post of the Colne goal.

Colne pushed forward looking to reduce the deficit and after 68 minutes Storey's low cross was fired home by Stowe in a crowded Maine Road area to give the Reds renewed hope. Colne continued to attack with Dan Ajidagba creating chances and the Reds came close when Harvey's free kick was pushed onto the bar by Byrne before being cleared by his defenders.

Corey Adams was brought down by the keeper as he chased a through ball from Storey but the referee did not see the challenge as a penalty. And Colne continued to create chances in a good period of pressure. But on the stroke of full time, Yaw Opoku-Berchie found the Colne net with a low shot after a good run on the right wing to seal the win for Maine Road.