WINSFORD United were once more left wondering what might have been.

Blues sunk to their second successive defeat without scoring despite the now familiar theme of them dominating their opponents for long periods.

Colne, like Squires Gate in midweek, scored against the run of play.

They had rarely threatened before their breakthrough shortly after the hour mark.

A corner dropped under the visitors' crossbar and, although keeper Michael Langley pawed the ball away, Mark Threfall was on hand to head home.

The hosts had almost took an unlikely lead in the first minute when Mark Calland's attempted clearance forced Langley to make a fingertip save to prevent a spectacular own goal.

With leading scorer Les Miranda failing to find the net in any of the past ten matches, it was difficult to see where else a Blues goal would come from.

They die manage to create openings of their own only to waste shooting chances as weak efforts by John Couch and Dean Ennion were easily saved.

The visitors looked to have a great chance to take the lead on 32 minutes when Lee Madin was fouled in the area but the referee awarded a free kick instead.

Ross Kennedy's resulting free kick crashed back off the crossbar.

After the break Langley made saves from Steve Hall and Ted Crockett while at the other end only a weak shot on the turn from Madin troubled the statisticians.

Blues: Langley (GK), Calland, Duckworth, Barnes, Ridler, Bluck, Couch, Ennion, Madin (Connell 75), Miranda, Kennedy
Sub not used: Dears
Attendance: 105