Alsager Town claimed a hard earned point from their final away game of the season at 4th placed Colne in the North West Counties League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon. Several enforced changes were made to the side which had won at Bacup & Rossendale Borough four days earlier, with goalkeeper Steve Dryden, midfielders Tom Brown and forwards Shane Reaney and Jordan Johnson all returned to the team. There was also a starting place for Nathan Eaves who came off the bench to score the winner at Bacup.
The Bullets were always anticipating a difficult game and the task became a whole lot harder when Colne's Joe Garvin struck a free-kick from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner of the net with only three minutes on the clock. The home team dominated and it was no surprise when they extended their lead in the 28th minute. Alsager, in trying to play the ball out from the back lost possession and Garvin scored from a tight angle. The Bullets were fortunate to be only two goals behind at the break, as Colne played them off the park and at that stage it was difficult to see a way back for the visitors.
The second half saw Colne continue in the ascendency, but in the 48th minute Michael Blundell reduced the arrears when he scored with a low shot after making a good run down the left. With the home team tending to overplay at times, in the 74th minute Jordan Johnson levelled for the Bullets from a quick counter attack. It was now a case of hanging on for a point which Alsager managed with a mixture of good defending, no little effort and sheer commitment.

Alsager Town team: Dryden, Hood, Mannion, Dawson, Lee, Chadwick, Reaney. Eaves, Blundell, Brown, Johnson, Subs: Wood, Long, Simcock, Ratcliffe.

Ian Woodward