After claiming a point at the weekend against Market Drayton Town, United were unfortunate not to secure consecutive draws with a narrow 1-0 loss at Colne.

The crucial strike came from Oliver Wood on 78 minutes with United's evening ending on a sour note, John Keatley sent off via a second booking in added time.

Paul McNally welcomed back Jordan Tyrer and Anthony Cato after Saturday's unavailability while Joel Douglas came into the starting 11 for Henoc Mukendi.

The opening minutes saw a quick break from Joel Douglas end with him slotting the ball past the near post before a dangerous header from a corner at the other end sailed across goal. Colne had the first clear chance of the evening on 12 minutes as Brad Lynch cut inside and rifled a short at goal which dre a superb diving save from Ryan Kirkman.

Liam Wood's dangerous through ball was cleverly cleared by Colne keeper Hakan Burton before United came under pressure at the other end with Matty Morgan's low cross turned narrowly past the post by Tommy Lent.

A clever counter from United saw John Keatley shoot from range with Burton claiming before a superb skill out wide from Matthew Corness formed an attack which ended with Marvin Molyneux firing over the bar before he swung forward a free-kick which saw substitute Sean Yeldrem flick past the post on the run.

Colne created a great chance of their own as Andy Hollins' header found Simon Nangle who was denied from point-blank range by Kirkman. The second half began with a Lynch cross which was cleared by Lent superbly before Alex Griffiths swept a chance over the bar at the other end.

A long throw by Lee Pugh found Reece Webb-Foster in the penalty area but his shot on the turn flew over the bar to the relief of the United defenders. Burton saved a long range effort from Yeldrem as United pressured before Wood sent a teasing shot across goal from range.

Colne's substitutes came close to making a quick impact as Waqas Azam fresh from his inclusion in ESW Team of the season forced a strong stop from Kirkman with an in-swinging free-kick.

Two great opportunities to break the deadlock fell to Corness who hit the first over the bar from Douglas' lay-off before collecting Wood's low cross to mis-hit wide of the target. The breakthrough did come on 78 minutes as after Azam's free-kick was cleared to Pugh, he evaded several challenges before going down in the area, the referee waved play on allowing Oliver Wood to slot past Kirkman for 1-0.

United suffered a late blow with John Keatley dismissed in added time for his second booking, a dismissal that will likely rule him out of the final run-in. The final whistle sounded seconds later as Colne celebrated a win and United were left to reflect on what might have been. A lengthy 10-day gap before the game against Atherton Collieries for United on a day which regardless of the result may see their return to the NW Counties confirmed.

Colne - Burton, Coleman (c), Pugh, Makinson, Hollins, Nangle, Webb-Foster, Poscha (Knox 66), Wood (Crowther 84), Morgan, Lynch (Azam 66). Subs not used- Rothwell, Grant.

Skelmersdale United - Kirkman , Scoullar (Yeldrem 22), Griffiths, Molyneux (c), Lent, Tyrer, Cato (Grimshaw 39), Wood, Douglas, Keatley, Corness. Subs not used- Moretti, McLoughlin.

Referee- E.Duckworth
Att-172.