THE Colne fans responded to chairman James Webster's battle cry as the largest gate since the Dynamoes days roared Nigel Coates' men through to the last eight of the FA Vase.

Ian Simpson, a scorer in the previous round's win at AFC Wimbledon, and Carl Haworth, with his 27th of the season, were the goal heroes that sent Bitton away empty-handed on the long journey back to Bristol.

In conditions of high wind and driving hail, the Reds were in total control from the first minute and a Simpson cross nearly brought reward from a Hayes header.

Haworth had two close efforts before the pressure finally paid off on 28 minutes. Webster released Haworth, who found Simpson on the edge of the area, and he sent a magnificent curling shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.

As much as they tried, Bitton couldn't get a foothold in the game and their frustration began to show with two bookings for Matt Emery and Andy Weeks, both for cynical fouls on Haworth.

Conditions started to deteriorate in the second half but this had no effect on the Reds who, led by Richard Walton and Craig Whittaker at the back, never looked in trouble.

With Scot Gizon a man mountain in midfield and Webster working non-stop a second seemed inevitable.

Corners from Webster had caused problems for the visitors all afternoon and three in succession nearly brought rewards when first Gizon and then Simpson went close.

But with 12 minutes left the game was sealed for Colne when another Webster corner swinging in on goal caused keeper Simon Crawford to punch the ball into his own net.

Bitton can have little complaint as, apart from one 10-minute spell, they did little to gain anything out of the tie.

Colne, however, fully deserved to progress to the quarter-finals as they showed the grit and determination that saw them through difficult ties at Hallam, Morpeth and Wimbledon.

COLNE...2

BITTON...0