Padiham led 1-0 at half-time, after a free-kick from Craig Chadwick was converted by Martin Parkes. And the visitors doubled their advantage six minutes after the break when an excellent move involving Anthony Taylor and Lee Morris ended with Robbie Smith tucking away the opening.

The Storks increased their lead again on 56 minutes, with a long-range effort from Chris Ridehalgh that sailed over the head of Colne keeper Bobby Harris and into the net.

That led to an instant triple substitution from Reds boss Nigel Coates, and an immediate increase in the tempo of the home side.

Padiham keeper Sean Davis had to make saves from Mark Threlfall, Liam Garbutt and Martin Broderick, and the Reds pulled one back with eight minutes to play when Michael Cruz finished off a well-worked move.

Morris had a great chance to make it 4-1 in Padiham's next attack, but his shot went wide.

Shortly afterwards, Garbutt made it 3-2, and he equalised with two minutes left.

Colne's incredible fightback was completed when Garbutt smacked a shot against the bar, and James Crorken headed in the rebound to snatch victory.

On Saturday the Reds are again at home to Abbey Hey in the Vodkat League Premier Division.

Last Saturday Colne produced a good performance to begin the month with a well-deserved victory against a big, strong Flixton team.

In the first half, the Reds outplayed their opponents and deserved more than their one-goal lead.

In the opening minutes, Threlfall came close when he robbed Darren Vernon and raced clear, only to be denied by Alan Osbourne, who was down quickly to smother his shot.

Minutes later, Garbutt had a good effort turned away by Osbourne after good work by Neil Stansfield.

Colne continued to dominate the midfield throughout the half, with Cruz and Kieron Roberts prompting the attacks by Stansfield and Matt Tindall down the flanks.

On 17 minutes they got their just rewards when Cruz released Tindall down the right, and his first-time cross to the far post was headed home by Threlfall.

Two minutes later it was nearly two when the scene was repeated, only this time Threlfall's shot was blocked by Vernon.

Other chances to increase the lead fell to Billy Priestley from a free kick, and another header by Threlfall, to which Osbourne reacted quickly.

In the second half, Colne began where they had left off, and in the opening minutes, Crorken's short corner to Garbutt was blasted towards the far top corner, but Osbourne reacted brilliantly to tip the ball away for a corner.

Cruz and Threlfall also forced good saves from Osbourne before, on the hour mark, Flixton were awarded a penalty when Roberts was adjudged to have fouled Daniel McDonnell.

Andrew Keogh's spot-kick was well saved by Bobby Harris, and he also reacted quickly to make another save from the rebound.

However, the situation gave Flixton renewed hope, and for a while there was a period of intense pressure.

This prompted Colne manager Nigel Coates to introduce Steve Cunningham into the contest.

The former Colne captain recently transferred from Runcorn Linnets, and soon made his presence felt with some telling passes which relieved the pressure.

In the end Colne deserved their hard-fought victory.