COLNE F.C. 2-3 WORKINGTON AFC

Colne slipped to a narrow defeat against third placed Workington at Holt House on Tuesday evening The Reds staged a great fight back in the closing minutes to score two late goals but ran out of time when the final whistle came.

In the opening stages, Colne pushed forward and a hard low cross by Luke Stowe just eluded Owen Watkinson at the far post. While at the other end, Workington looked dangerous with good runs by David Symington and Kai Nugent.

Colne had a great chance after just ten minutes when Hakan Burton’s long ball out of defence sent Stowe away on a run in the visitors’ half but as he reached the penalty area, keeper Jim Atkinson did well to block his shot and clear the danger.

After 21 minutes, a quick counterattack saw Nugent embark on a right wing run and his cross to the far post was knocked home by Scott Allison to give

Workington the lead. The visitors pressed forward again and within a minute Nugent forced a great save from Burton as he dived across his goal to push his shot away. And in a subsequent attack, Symington shot wide with only Burton to beat.

Colne steadied the ship with some great defensive tackles by Finley Devenney, Harry Winstanley and Jacob Bridges. And on the stroke of half time, they forged a good opening at the right end of the field when Lucas Weaver made progress into the visitors’ penalty area and squared the ball to Stowe who pulled his shot wide of goal from a good opportunity.

As the second half began, Danny Kyobe was brought down on the corner of the visitors’ area and Watkinson blasted the free kick inches past the far post At the other end, Keelan Leslie threatened with a penetrating run before Tom Fagan stopped his progress with a greattackle. And as play swung to the other end, Stowe’s free kick was headed just over the bar by Watkinson

Line Up: Burton, Fagan, Stowe (McCann 81), Winstanley, Devenney, Bridges, Weaver (Diakite 62), Doyle (Kardacz 37), Watkinson, Ikpakwu, Kyobe Subs Not Used: Wallbank, Bradley

After 70 minutes, Workington doubled their lead when a left wing cross into the Colne goalmouth took a fortunate deflection and fell to Reuben Jerome who fired home from close range

Colne looked for a quick reply and Winstanley’s cross was held by the keeper at the second attempt before one minute later Atkinson was again in action to palm away an inswinging corner from under his crossbar.

But after 80 minutes as Workington attacked, Symington was brought down by a challenge from behind to give the visitors a penalty which Connor Tinnion duly dispatched into the net for a three goal lead.

Colne pressed forward in the closing stages and Tom McCann’s run and shot was blocked in a crowded Workington penalty area before Malick Diakite fired home the loose ball to reduce the deficit after minutes As the game into added time, forced a series of corners and when the ball was cleared to Matty Kardacz found the net with a through a packed goalmouth

The Reds had momentum at this with the visitors defending desperately but the whistle came all too soon Colne.

Vidiprinter

22 ‘ Scott Allison scores

37’ Mateusz Kardacz replaced Alex Doyle

HT Colne 0-1 Workington

62’ Malik Diakite replaced Lucas Weaver

62’ Reuben Jerome replaced Kai Nugent

70’ Reuben Jerome scores

75’ Lewis Reilly replaced Scott Allison

81’ Conor Tinnion scores

81 'Tom McCann replaced Luke Stowe

82’ Owen Watkinson cautioned

83 'Tom Fagan cautioned

84 'Dan Wordsworth cautioned

89 'Malik Diakite scores

90’ Mateusz Kardacz scores

90’ Reuben Jerome cautioned

90’ Steven Rigg cautioned

The Weekends Results

Tuesday

Colne 2-3 Workington

Leek Town 1-1 Mossley

This Weeks Fixtures

The Weekend

City of Liverpool V Prescot Cables

Clitheroe V Leek Town

Colne V Ramsbottom United

Glossop North End V Newcastle Town

Hanley Town V 1874 Northwich

Kidsgrove V Runcorn Linnets

Macclesfield V Trafford

Mossley V Bootle

Widnes V Workington

Witton Albion V Skelmersdale

Tuesday 4th April

Ramsbottom U V 1874 Northwich

The clubs finishing in third and fourth from bottom in each of the eight divisions at Step 4 at the end of the Regular Season will take part in InterStep Play-Off Matches against the clubs finishing in 2nd position in each of the sixteen divisions at Step 5 to determine whether they remain at Step 4 or are relegated to step 5 for the following playing season.

The young lions look forward to the remaining 3 games of the season 3 away fixtures, starting next Sunday, 2nd April against Ashton Town.

With players coming back from injury. Having had last Tuesday and Thursday assisting the new first team manager, Paul Weller’s training with the senior lads, the U21’s were delighted to play their part in refreshing the preparations throughout to a victory away at Bootle With the travelling faithful singing loud and proud back down the M57.

So, 3 remaining games for the young lions, may still see a playoff place 3 points awarded to the reds last Sunday, as Ashton

Town cancelled the day before the fixture, so a Home Walkover to us.

However, breaking news, we see the U21 Manager Josh Wall depart the club yesterday The U21 players and staff would like to thank Josh for all the hard work he has done with the group since joining last August. Josh brought a new dynamic to training and he has contributed greatly to all the lads development, without a doubt. He is a young coach with great ambitions, and we all wish him the very best

We welcome Workington to Holt House tonight and hope both teams put on a great display for the fans.

U21 players and staff will be in the crowd tonight cheering Paul Weller’s “ red and white army “ to hopefully another victory

Onwards and upwards !!