After last week’s narrow defeat to league leaders Maine Road Colne travelled to face second-placed Runcorn Town in what promised to be another closely contested game.

And the match did not disappoint and provided sufficient entertainment to warm up the crowd on a bitterly cold afternoon.

Nigel Coates’ side made a good start and after just 2 minutes they looked likely to take the lead when Jason Hart played Mickey Saunders through the middle but with just the keeper to beat he blasted his shot over the crossbar.

But Runcorn took the lead in the fourth minute through Mark Keddie’s deflected effort.

They were on level terms in the 25th minute when, after good work by Ashley Carter, Robert Grimes volleyed home into the far corner.

Play then Colne finished the first period the stronger and looking the favourites for all three points.

After an early scare in the second half when Shanley blasted the ball against the post from close range, Colne took the lead again when Grimes and Carter combined to create an opening for Hart who blasted home into the top far corner.

But after a period of poor defending the Reds surrendered the lead on 70 minutes when they failed to clear their lines and allowed Shanley the time and space to fire across Chris Thompson into the bottom far corner.

Runcorn were now pushing forward in search of a winner as the Colne defence dropped deeper and deeper being stretched down both flanks by McShane and Shanley who posed problems but could not convert the chances.

But Colne had chances to win the game in the last 10 minutes. Ed O’Neill burst into the area and played a ball that went begging in front of the goals. and Carter went close on a few occasions.

In the end, the draw was a fair result for two committed teams who had entertained the crowd.