Relegation threatened Colne dug deep to secure a point at the Bowl on Saturday as FC Isle of Man missed several chances to close the gap on the sides above.
The result was the third successive NWCFL Premier Division home game to end 1-1 following draws with Irlam and Barnoldswick.
The Ravens started quickly and deservedly went ahead when Adam Adebiyi poked home after a scramble at the front post from Dean Pinnginton’s cross.
Initially the goal looked like it would be ruled out for offside as the assistant raised his flag, but referee Thomas Fox overruled it and gave the goal.
As the Ravens looked to add a second Ste Whitley’s free kick just went wide of the near post from about 25 yards out.
Adebiyi thought he should be getting a penalty when he went through in the 16th minute, he went down under pressure from the recovering defender, but Fox was unmoved and waived play on.
Moments later a good move down the left saw Charlie Higgins and Pinnington link up, the latter teed up Kyle Watson, but his deflected shot was put wide by Higgins as he tries to pounce on the loose ball.
Adebiyi then went through again, this time he went round Henry Turner in the Colne goal, but the recovering defender got back to clear the ball for a corner.
Further chances came and went for Whitley, Adebiyi and Pinnington, but the Ravens were unable to add to their lead.
The home side were adamant they should have had a penalty just before the 40th minute when a Colne defender mis-kicked the ball up in the air and it struck his hand, which was above his head, but again the play was waived on.
Turner was the Colne hero again just before the break as Whitley was slipped in by Pinnginton, but the visiting keeper spread himself way and made a big save to keep it 1-0 at the break.
Second Half
With the second half beginning as the first ended, Turner denied Pinnington when he was through on goal before Whitley saw his effort blocked from a corner.
Colne should have drawn level just before the hour mark when Jack Holt seized on a loose ball out from the back, but he put his effort wide much to the relief of the home crowd.
At the other end Turner continued to deny the Ravens with saves from Crook and Adebiyi’s overhead effort, while the Colne defence threw themselves in front of every attempt on goal.
With 70 on the clock Colne should have levelled as Jude Entwistle was unable to direct his head at goal after a good move down their right.
Entwistle would make no mistake moments later when he pounced on a missed header from Jack McVey to go through with Adam Killey and slot past the Ravens’ keeper to make it 1-1.
Holt then had a chance to give the visiting fans enough more to sing about but his effort was straight at Killey.
Pinnington’s effort late on struck the bar before captain Sean Doyle, carrying an injury, came on for the dying moments as the Ravens had a late corner.
Doyle got his head on the end of Whitley’s corner, but Turner again was equal to it to it.
Attendance: 749
Paul Jones
