The script for this game must have come straight from the realms of fantasy.

The game had everything to warm the hearts of the faithful who braved the freezing Holt House conditions.

There was a goal-fest, a goalkeeper sent off, a penalty scored by the stand-in goalkeeper and a spectacular injury-time winner.

Colne began the strongest and they had the ball in the net after five minutes but Liam Garbutt's strike was adjudged offside.

They thought they had taken the lead again after Michael Rosser's strike was well-saved at the post and Kevin Urwin slotted home the rebound only for the goal to be disallowed.

But Colne deservedly took the lead on 14 minutes when Gavin Cooper latched onto Martin Broderick's cross and cooly slotted home into the far corner.

Congleton came back strongly and equalised when Jordan Johnson slipped his marker and flicked the ball over the advancing Michael Donlon who was making his debut in the Colne goal.

The ball hit the retreating Ronnie Wright on the shin and rebounded into the net.

Straight from the kick-off. Colne took the lead again when Garbutt latched onto a loose clearance and his shot from 25 yards dipped and looped past a helpless Wilks in the Congleton goals.

On the half hour, Colne further increased their lead when Ted Cockett met Cooper's delivery into the box and volleyed home.

Then just before half-time, Congleton pulled a goal back after a defensive mix-up let in Johnson to tap home.

In the first few minutes of the second-half, disaster struck for Colne when the defence was caught square to a ball over the top and Donlon came racing out of his area.

Johnson's shot hit Donlon's hand and he was immediately sent off.

Rosser took over in goal for the 10-man Reds but he was soon running up the pitch to convert a penalty after Urwin had been upended in the area.

Under pressure from the Congleton forwards, and with 10 minutes to go, the Colne defence leaked two more goals from an unfortunate own goal and a Matt Hadderell strike.

The game looked destined to end in a draw but in the final minute Garbutt latched onto a long clearance.

He flicked the ball over the defenders and his pace took him clear in front of goal to rifle home the winner.