THERE were mixed fortunes in the FA Trophy and goals galore in the North West Counties League at the weekend.

It’s all in our latest non-league round-up below.

COLNE WIN THRILLER

COLNE booked their place in the next round of the FA Trophy as they came out on top in a seven-goal thriller at Widnes thanks to a stunning hat-trick by Jamie Cooke.

The Reds trailed 2-0 and 3-2 but Cooke’s late winner earned Nathan Rooney’s side a trip to South Shields in the third qualifying round.

Widnes took the lead with a controversial goal in the 24th minute when play was allowed to continue despite a head injury to Billy Hasler-Cregg and Kyle Sambor knocked home a long diagonal cross at the far post.

Three minutes later, the Reds conceded again when Ryan Jennings fired home from 10 yards out.

Colne began the second half in a positive mood and pulled a goal back after 55 minutes and Reece Webb-Foster held off defenders in the Widnes area before laying the ball back for Cooke who fired home a low shot from close range to reduce the arrears to 2-1.

Two minutes later, Webb-Foster again provided the chip forward for Anthony Williams to take the ball on past the keeper and level the scores at 2-2 with a low shot from a narrow angle.

Widnes went back in front when Sambor’s speed took him through the Colne defence to slot home his side’s third goal.

Once again Colne fought back and after 71 minutes, Webb-Foster’s chip sent Cooke into the penalty area and he beat Terry with a well placed shot to level the scores at 3-3.

Both sides went for a winner and with five minutes left Webb-Foster sent Cooke clear and chipped the ball over Terry for the winning goal.

Clitheroe will travel to Ashton United in the next round thanks to a 1-0 win at Dunston with Kielen Adams scoring the only goal of the game.

RAMMY LOSE SHOOT-OUT

RAMSBOTTOM United suffered penalty shoot-out agony as they were knocked out of the FA Trophy at Worksop Town.

The Rams battled back from the 3-0 down to lead 4-3 only for Worksop to grab a late equaliser to to take the tie to spot kicks which the hosts won 5-4 – with Mason Fawns missing the decisive penalty.

Jack Greenhalgh gave Worksop a fifth-minute lead which was doubled by James Baxendale 10 minutes later.

On 17 minutes, Chris Willcock’s side were given a lifeline when Sefton Gonzales was brought down by Connor Smythe but Tom Kennedy struck the post from the resulting penalty.

Things got worse in the 22nd minute as the hosts made it 3-0 thanks to a Gav Allott header from close range giving the Rams a mountain to climb.

However, they got a foothold in the tie when Dominic Rouse pulled one back almost immediately before netting a second on the stroke of half-time.

The Rams came out second half looking for that all-important equaliser and the comeback was complete just before the hour mark with Gonzales getting in on the action after brushing the defender aside he ran through and made no mistake sliding it beyond Malkowski.

Just over 10 minutes later, the Rams took the lead for the first time in the game when Fawns poked the ball home from close range after good work from Gonzales.

However with just three minutes left, Worksop, who had twice hit the crossbar in the closing stages, made it 4-4 after Scott Brown fired home from close range.

The Rams got an early advantage in the shoot-out after Worksop missed their first and Aaron Burns converted for the visitors. But Kennedy missed his second spot kick of the game and the sides were back on level terms.

Rouse, Richie Baker and Gonzalez all scored to take it to sudden death but Fawns’  miss meant Ramsbottom were out of the competition.

GOALS GALORE IN THE NWCFL

IT was a weekend to forget for both AFC Darwen and Barnoldswick Town as they conceded sixteen goals between them in heavy defeats.

AFC Darwen went down 6-2 at North West Counties League new boys Bury AFC while Barlick were thumped 10-2 at Winsford United despite taking a fourth minute lead.

Kenny Langford’s Darwen travelled to take on Bury AFC – a phoenix club set up by Bury FC supporters after the Shakers were kicked out of the Football League in August 2019 – looking for their first points since beating AFC Blackpool 7-3 on the opening day of the season.

But they found Bury and striker Tom Greaves, in particular, too hot to handle with the AFC frontman grabbing four goals in the First Division North clash.

Matthew Johnson and Leon Creech got the Darwen goals.

In the Premier Division, a Zack Dale penalty gave Barlick a fourth minute lead but that was as good as it got as leaders Winsford hit double figures. Sam Madeley, who went on to score five times, levelled four minutes later before Robert Hopley put the hosts 2-1 up in the 11th minute.

Barlick briefly rallied and Dale made it 2-2 midway through the half.

But two goals from Madeley to complete his hat-trick and another from Hopley put the hosts in control at the break.

Hopley completed his hat-trick – sandwiched between two more for Madeley – with Andrew Lewis and Adam Barlow completing the scoring.

In First Division North, Bacup made it two wins out of two thanks to a 2-0 win at Golcar United with Michael Gervin and Josh Brennan on target.

And Nelson’s interest in the FA Vase is over for another season after they were beaten 4-1 at home by Ashington.

CHORLEY’S SLOW START GOES ON

CHORLEY are still looking for their first point after a third straight National League North defeat.

The Magpies on the balance of play and chances created should not have lost which was decided by a deflected free-kick after 29 minutes.

The absence of influential striker Harry Cardwell was a significant factor, as was outstanding goalkeeping by the Sandgrounders’ Dan Hanford who pulled off a couple of top-drawer saves.

It was against the run of play when Southport got the decisive goal. A foul just outside the box gave Dylan Vassalio his opportunity, his free-kick taking a hefty deflection off the wall and wrong-footing Urwin.

Chorley boss Jamie Vermiglio was left to rue missed opportunities.

“We just weren’t clinical enough when we got the ball into their box,” he said. “It’s disappointing because we’ve defended really well but up front we’ve got to do better. 

“It’s great for everyone at the club that we are in the first round of the FA Cup but I’d have swapped that for nine points in the league.”