The Stripes put in a tremendous last thirty minute stint to deservedly take a share of the spoils, against a workmanlike Clitheroe outfit.
The final league game of the Pitching In NPL Division One campaign was shrouded in typical Dream2Reality Stadium match day weather – rain which had a least becalmed the very lively surface slightly.
The first half was a game of very few chances to be honest. The East Lancashire side should have taken the lead on twenty-five minutes but Ntumba Massanka somehow found the near post when he hoped to caress the ball in an empty net. Minutes later, the visitors did edge clear. Leon Creech’s shot was well parried by Sol Honor and this time Massanka was faultless with the rebound. Cue a goal, cue the sun.
Michael Clegg’s team had to improve in the second half but were delivered a hammer blow within minutes of the restart.
Defender, Jack McEvilly stood over an innocuous looking free-kick in his own half, but spotted Sol Honor off his line. He sent in what was an audacious punt which had the young custodian back-pedalling. Honor was already behind the goal line by the time he could change the ball’s trajectory, and as the visitors appealed that the effort had already crossed the line, Cameron Lancaster erased the doubt and fired into the empty net.
Colls could either wimp out in front of a great home following or show some minerals. They did the latter. Young gun, Liam Sheppard was have having good success down the right flank and his marker was cautioned for an ale house challenge. The feist notch had raised significantly and there was to be a spate of cautions.
The increased tempo suited Colls, playing up the slope and just after the hour mark it was game on. From a set piece, Scott Bakkor flicked on to Tom Bentham whose header nestled into the far corner of the net. Goal number five of the season for The Butcher.
Colls were now stretching the visitors who set out to defend and try to pick off on the break. As injury time approached, the equaliser. Another Under 18 product, Ben Layton put in a low, pinpoint cross and Bakkor did the rest. His shot from ten yards gave the Clitheroe glovesmn no chance.
Colls had now fully woken up, it was the away team who were perhaps the happiest to hear the final whistle. What had started as the archetypal end of season ‘dead rubber’ had morphed into a gradely game of football.
The black n white stripes left the field to the chimes of The Great Escape and the genuine applause of their faithful supporters.
The last game of the season is in on Saturday at Wincham Park, home of Witton Albion. Get behind the lads, ko 3pm.
