Barnoldswick Town 1 Colne 2

BARNOLDSWICK Town had selection problems for Saturday's North West Counties League Premier Division derby clash with Scott Moore, Carl Ellerton and Matthew Simpson all unavailable.

The poor weather forecast didn’t materialise until the latter stages of the match, however there was a strong blustery wind running across the field.

Colne started brightly and forced a series of corners in the first five minutes with the wind slightly in their favour.

Marc Young headed wide from a cross at the far post and Joshua Heaton saw a similar effort just clear the bar.

Town’s first attack almost brought a goal. Mark Threlfall crossed dangerously into the near post where Ben Gorman was denied by goalkeeper Nosakhare Aghayere diving bravely at his feet.

Colne's Jason Hart forced Gidley into a good save while at the other end, Threlfall headed a cross into the path of Gorman whose volley was heading for the top corner when Aghayere palmed it away from goal.

Colne went ahead in the 38th minute when former Town striker Joel Melia's cross deceived goalkeeper Jordan Gidley and the home defenders as it held up on the wind. It left Alexander Coleman with the easy task of heading home.

Town should have equalised just before half-time, Threlfall was put through on goal but his final shot from around the penalty spot was palmed away by Aghayere.

Town had to wait until the 65th minute to draw level. Threlfall muscled his way past Colne defender Joshua Heaton before being pulled back as he ran into the penalty area.

Referee Natalie Aspinall had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and then showed Heaton a red card. Gorman stepped up to send Aghayere the wrong way.

Play swung from end to end and Threlfall went close for Town while Hart and Wharton caused problems for the Town defence.

The ten men of Colne snatched victory in 73rd minute. A Simon Nangle corner on the Town right was caught on the wind and dipped at the near post to wrong foot the Town defence before rebounding off Ben Wharton into the net.

With the rain starting to pour down a streaker leapt the fence at the clubhouse end and ran the full length of the pitch and out of the turnstile into Victory Park.

Town continued to press for an equaliser with substitute Michael Hodson going closest as he forced Aghayere into another save.