COLNE 1 BOOTLE 2

IT was a game Colne simply had to win but, for the 14th time in a row, they lost.

To have any realistic chance of avoiding the relegation places, John Lister's side simply had to take maximum points from a Bootle side just two places above them in the North West Counties League Second Division table.

And, by cruel misfortune, the winning goal for the visitors came just five minutes from time.

For a while it looked as though Colne could be on their way to a rare triumph, Lee Coleridge giving them the lead after 27 minutes.

But Anthony Love equalised for the visitors before half time and then Paul Silk popped up with the heartbreaker late on.