COLNE ENGAINE 3 BRANTHAM ATHLETIC COLTS 2

Lexden Memorial Cup semi-final

Colne Engaine booked their place in the Lexden Memorial Cup final after a hard-fought win over Brantham Athletic Colts.

In the fourth meeting between the two sides this campaign, it was Brantham who started better and Engines keeper Paul Rolfe had to be alert early on.

They took the lead in the 13th minute when a Dean Dale corner found Ben Spencer unmarked at the back post and he crashed a header home.

It could have been more as Brantham rattled the woodwork, but they held a one-goal lead at half-time.

Colne started the second half brightly, though, with Joe Morris jinking his way past the Brantham full-back before crossing to Richard Hearn, who fired the ball home.

The goal gave them a renewed spark and they took the lead five minutes later. Hearn returned the favour to Morris by playing him in on the left wing and a defensive slip gave Morris a clear path at goal to fire across the keeper into the bottom corner.

The game was still in the balance and it took a well-worked goal to give the Engines some comfort zone.

Substitute Arron Andrews won the ball on the left wing, before finding Joe Pearce on the right and he returned the ball to Andrews, who fired a curling effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

Colne Engaine’s task was made harder after Jordan Partridge was sent off and Brantham made use of their man advantage.

Dale was again the provider and Joshua Jackson turned home the cross to make it a nervy final five minutes for Colne. However, the Engines’ ten men held firm to make their first final since returning to Burches Meadow.