Colne 1 - Ramsbottom United 5

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED ran riot in the first 45 minutes to set up a simple passage into the second round of the Marsden Lancashire Cup.

The Rams played down the pronounced slope on a horrible, rainy, windswept night, but they reaped a quick benefit on 13 minutes when Danny Goodall put them ahead.

He caught the Colne keeper off his line and chipped in from 20 yards out.

Two minutes later Steve Orrell went into the chip shop too with a similar effort to make it 2-0 to Ramsbottom.

North West Counties Second Division Colne were kept at full stretch and barely had time to pose a problem to Rams' keeper Keith Nield and his defence.

In the 23rd minute Goodall was sent crashing in the box and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty, Russell Brierley scoring from the spot.

Another foul in the 36th minute in a central position just outside the penalty area presented Mike Langhorn with a free-kick opportunity that he cashed in on with a fine, left-footed shot that found the back of the net.

Orrell and Brierley had further efforts before the break, but it was just the four that the Rams led by at half-time.

The slope being against them in the second half made little difference as Ramsbottom contionued to attack down both flanks.

Brierley's pace was a constant threat to Colne and, 11 mninutes into the second half, a cross from the right saw Brierley race ahead of the rest to head just inside the near post.

Manager Ken Brown sent on two substitutes one after the other, Mark Heyes replacing Brierley on the hour and John Bowman, brother of Darren, coming on for Goodall in the 65th minute.

Without Brierley's pace up front, the Rams became less of a threat, but there were still plenty of goal chances for the visitors.

Ian Hutchison came on for his first appearance of the season, taking a lead from John Bowman, in the 75th minute for Paul Cameron.

Then, out of the blue, Colne grabbed a consolatiuon goal when Nield threw the ball straight to a Colne player who embarrassed the big keeper by promptly firing the ball into the back of the net in the 79th minute.

The final ten minutes were played out with Ramsbottom continuing to take the game to a tiring Colne side.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED: Nield 6, D Bowman 7, Langhorn 7, Smith 7, Thomas 7, Goodall 8, Bridden 7, Cameron 7, R Brierley 7, Orrell 7, Yorke-Robinson 7. Substitutes: Heyes (for Brierley, 60 mins) 6, J Bowman (for Goodall, 65 mins) 6, Hutchinson (for Cameron, 75 mins).

Ramsbottom take on Clitheroe, weather permitting, at the Riverside on Saturday (3pm) in the NWCL Challenge Cup first round and on Tuesday the Rams are due to play at Prescot in a Floodlit Trophy first round tie.

New signing Chris Willcock, a striker signed from Mossley, will be in the squad on Saturday, but another capture from Mossley, midfield man Darren Holt, will not as he has not been registered in time. Holt will be available for the trip to Prescot, however.