Today’s visitors are Clitheroe as we search for our first ever home win against The Blues, whilst we attempt to increase our lead at the top of the league table with just 4 games left to play! Our abject record against Clitheroe is fully documented in the match day programme, available at the turnstile!
Colls visited Shawbridge back in September in a spell where the absence of goalkeeper Greg Hartley had introduced a degree of uncertainty in the defensive part of our game, having been knocked out of the FA Cup at home to Kidsgrove Athletic days before. Zehn Mohammed was first to be benefit following Colls inability to clear the ball from an area Hartley would usually have dominated to open the scoring. Fortunately for Colls, creating chances is not something we struggle with. Ben Conway immediately dancing through to create an equaliser for Ben Hardcastle.
However, it was Clitheroe that kicked on from there, firstly Obi Onaruo look advantage of a poor ball out by Colls’ keeper Bacon to slot into an empty net before another failure to clear a corner led to Jay Jeffries increasing the lead to 3-1 just prior to the teams heading down the tunnel for the half-time break.
Manager Micheal clegg gave one of his infamous half-time roastings and emerging for the second were a completely different team. Conor Gaul immediately reduced the deficit to give us a glimpse of light. It took a further 20 minutes for Colls to pull the game level, superb movement across the line by Conway allowed him to bear down on goal and hit a trademark finish across Ed Wilczynski in the goal to draw the game level again.
Colls carried on pushing and sealed the game in the last 10 minutes, James Sigsworth firing in a Gaz Peet cross to take the lead before Ben Hardcastle broke through to complete the scoring and seal the points.
Since then, Clitheroe have done enough to climb the table as they sat rock bottom when manager Lee Ashforth arrived. He’s bolstered their goal scoring threat by recruiting former Colls man George West back to the club from Stockport County. We know the threat he will present. Also returning to the Skuna is former Bolton youth player Cole Lonsdale who was last seen in our pre-season friendlies against the Wanderers.
For Colls, Jordan Cover is finally back and firing on all cylinders as he looks to add to his tally of 3 goals in the last 2 games as he closes in on Mark Battersby’s mantle as our record goal scorer.
Admission - £7 adults, £4 concessions & students, U16 £2, accompanied u12s free.
How The League Was Won Pt 2
April 30, 2019
A freezing Harry Williams Stadium on New Year’s Day 2019 saw Colls make a real statement of intent, facing a Ramsbottom side in the middle
