COLNE boss Steve Cunningham said before his side’s FA Cup trip to Barnoldswick Town that the competition was a distraction – but his players seemed fully focused as they put on a five-star performance at the Silentnight Stadium.

The goals have been flowing for the Reds so far this campaign and the 5-0 rout in front of 333 people, against their local rivals, means they have now found the back of the net 14 times in just three games.

And with Ben Allen still to return for Cunningham there is still more firepower to be unleashed.

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The visitors actually took their time to get going on Saturday, with Town enjoying a good start and bossing the play in the early stages.

Colne needed an acrobatic save from Chris Thompson, denying Mark Threlfall, to keep the scores level early on.

Eventually Cunningham’s side started to purr and Jordan Gidley was twice off his line quickly to deny Danny Boyle, while Jay Hart, having scored five goals in his first two games, looked as shocked as anyone when he clipped a golden opportunity just wide.

Just as it looked like Town were going to make into the break level, Colne got the breakthrough.

Hart turned provider this time, his low cross from the left evaded Spencer Jordan but right-back Ben Hoskin was on hand to fire home. And one quickly became two with Hoskin again providing the finish.

This time Jordan’s high cross was met by the head of Hoskin – with the ball fiercely dispatched beyond Gidley.

Colne were in their groove now and they went further ahead just two minutes into the second half.

The relentless Hart and Boyle put the Barlick defence under pressure and when the ball broke for Jordan, he lashed home from close range. Thompson was called into action at the other end to save Ben Gorman’s drive which came through a crowded penalty area, before Colne’s Kenny Taylor rattled the crossbar from 20 yards.

Substitute Sakeel Abdullah was next to threaten for Colne, but Gidley was equal to his effort, but on 68 minutes the Reds made it four.

Taylor provided the assist, as his chipped ball evaded Gidley and allowed Jordan to finish from close range once again for his second of the afternoon and third of the season. With seven minutes to go Cunningham’s men completed the rout.

Once again Taylor was the architect, his through ball set Abdullah away and he managed to keep his composure to round Gidley before firing into an empty net.

The Reds came under same late pressure but Michael Morrison and Hoskin were alert to the danger as they managed to secure their first clean sheet of the season as they progressed to the next round, where they will face Tadcaster Albion on August 29.