Fleetwood Town 9, Colne 1
COLNE’S trip to Fleetwood on Monday night became a reality check that they will put down to experience.
The Galaxy Football Lancashire League reserve meeting took on a greater relevance following first team postponements due to the recent cold snap.
Micky Mellon and Colne boss Nigel Coates opted to field their first team line-ups in the absence of Blue Square Bet Premier and North West Counties football last weekend, in an effort to keep up the match fitness of their players.
But with hindsight, it was perhaps a little optimistic to expect a good result for Colne against a Fleetwood team who are currently top of the Blue Square Bet Premier Division and knocking on the door of the Football League.
The Colne team will have enjoyed playing in the modernised Highbury Stadium, and held the score to 0-0 for 28 minutes.
Andy Mangan produced a rocket shot that keeper Chris Thompson parried away, and Richard Brodie pounced, but fouled his marker in the process.
Brodie then produced a good run down the right to cross into the path of Jamie Vardy (pictured). The ball reached Town’s leading scorer but the Reds defence prevented an effort on goal.
A carbon copy move moments later resulted in a similar outcome, before Vardy pressured a defender into a back header which Thompson needed to save to prevent an own goal.
Scott Davies was then brought into action when Mark Threlfall sent a low drive toward the Fleetwood goal.
The deadlock was broken just before the half mark when a Vardy cross presented Brodie with a simple tap-in.
Home captain Nathan Pond pulled off a good block from the restart when Danny Boyle charged into the Town box, and Colne continued to pressure when Tinkers’ chip rattled the bar and settled on the roof of the net.
Andy Mangan increased the lead with a driven shot five minutes later. The striker turned provider just two minutes later when a well-placed ball allowed Vardy to make it 3-0.
Craig pulled one back for Colne on 36 minutes to give Colne’s travelling supporters something to cheer, only for Vardy to claim his second a minute later.
Vardy claimed his hat trick with an angled shot, under pressure, from the edge of the box four minutes after the restart, and the striker - linked with Rangers, Celtic, Blackpool, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, West Ham United and Southampton in the transfer window - claimed his fourth to make the score 6-1 after 53 minutes.
Substitute Gareth Seddon, formerly with Padiham. scored Town’s seventh of the evening after good work from Peter Cavanagh, and Vardy added his fifth, before the scoring was rounded off when Brodie claimed his second goal of the evening, from a Jamie Milligan corner.
There were some outstanding performances in the Colne side, in particular Steve Pickup in defence, Micky Woodvine in midfield and Boyle up front.
But there was clearly a gulf in class between the two sides, highlighted by Vardy , for whom Fleetwood turned down seven-figure offers last month.
He looked unstoppable and finished with five goals to his credit on the night.
Colne keeper Thompson made some good saves throughout the game but he will have been glad to hear the final whistle on a busy night.
Tomorrow the Reds are scheduled to travel to Stone Dominoes (kick-off 3 p.m.) before hosting derby rivals, and title hopefuls, Barnoldswick Town on Tuesday at the XLCR Stadium (kick-off 7-45 p.m.).
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Weather for Pendle
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
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