COLNE MAKE A POINT AND DENY BLUES

A goalless draw against Colne at Harrison Park meant Blues had to settle for seven points from nine over the course of the week.

Boss Neil Baker rang the changes again reverting to the side that beat Trafford rather than the one victorious at Radcliffe, with Jordan Johnson and Lewis Short replacing Scott Lycett and Lee Wilshaw.

Colne came out of the blocks fast and were the better team for the opening half hour.

Danny Roberts was called into action to make a good low save in the 6th minute and soon after another effort fizzed just wide of his post.

The Blues keeper had to be at his best to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch from a header in the 22nd minute and he was called again to make a save on the half hour mark.

Blues finally got their passing game going and in the 33rd minute a lovely exchange of passes between Rob Stevenson and Jordan Johnson saw the latter just unable to get on the end of the final pass.

Stevenson hit an effort just over and Bott had a headed chance that went over as Leek finished the half on a positive note.

The second half was a tight even affair with little in the way of clear-cut opportunities with both sides best moment coming in the space of a minute on the hour.

Town had a miraculous escape when a header looped over Roberts but Jack Sanders managed to get his head to the ball and it hit the underside of the bar, bounced down and was cleared.

Despite protests from the Colne players and fans behind the goal that the ball had crossed the line, the referee waved play on and Blues broke to feed Johnson at the other end who from an angle had just the keeper to beat but he spread himself well and saved with his legs.

Baker threw on Tim Grice and Dan Trickett-Smith and both sides continued to press for a goal but some excellent defending from both sets of defences limited any chances.

Town finished on top in added time with a succession of corners but could not find a way through and in the end a draw was a fair result over the game as a whole.

Team:

1. Danny Roberts
2. Niall Green
3. Lewis Short
4. Marc Grocott
5. Darren Chadwick
6. Jack Sanders
7. Charlie Walford
8. Billy Reeves
9. Aaron Bott (12. Tim Grice, 64)
10. Jordan Johnson (14. Dan Trickett-Smith, 64)
11. Rob Stevenson

Unused subs: , 15. Scott Lycett, 16. Niall Maguire, 17. Lee Wilshaw

Yellow cards: Charlie Walford

Attendance: 428

Man of the match: Jack Sanders

Match sponsored by Ken Hodgkinson