The 19-year-old hit a wonder strike just 35 seconds after his half-time introduction to help the Reds maintain their impressive away record.

And with Colne 1-0 up at the time, his goal virtually killed off the game as a contest.

Replacing the injured Gavin Cooper, forced off with a groin strain, he picked up a cross from Ted Cockett on the edge of the area.

Crorken controlled the ball delicately with his first touch of the game, before unleashing a ripsnorter with his left foot that arrowed into the far corner past home keeper John Ogden.

And you got the feeling that, even with so long remaining, that goal had killed off any hope of a Ramsbottom recovery.

The hosts had offered precious little in terms of an attacking threat in the opening period, with Richard Dunn's volley wide their only effort at all.

Chris Brennan was a virtual spectator in the Colne goal, as at the other end, his team-mates were terrorising the home defence with their pace.

It took just six minutes for the Reds to grab the lead, as Cooper's free kick was met by a deft flick by Liam Garbutt, sending the ball past Ogden for his 19th goal of a prolific campaign.

The hugely impressive Stevie Hall then arrowed a shot over after some good footwork, while Cockett struck a shot across goal after good play from Martin Broderick.

Hall almost doubled the lead with a splendid run and shot just before the break, but Ramsbottom failed to hinder the warning with Crorken's strike just after the restart.

Within minutes, Cockett almost burst through only to be denied by Ogden, before Matt Kay had United's only clear-cut chance of the game, only to shoot wide when clean through.

And they were made to pay again when Broderick put Hall clean through, and he lifted the ball over Ogden and into an empty net.

And Ogden's evening got worse when he was sent off for a second bookable offence in injury-time for bringing down Garbutt in full flight.

Colne host Winsford tomorrow (kick-off 3 p.m.,) before entertaining Atherton Collieries on Tuesday (kick-off 7-45 p.m.).