RAMSBOTTOM United were made to pay for missed chances as local rivals Colne scored three times in the final 30 minutes to secure a 3-0 win. 

The visitors adapted best to a sodden pitch to ease away in the closing stages after Rammy had failed to seize the advantage when on top in a goalless first half.

Colne might have considered themselves slightly fortunate to have gone into the break level as the Rams posed a constant threat down the right.

Ollie Crankshaw's low cross was just scrambled away from an onrushing Sam Freakes and then the same player was just unable to get on the end of a Grant Spencer cross.

Next a floated cross found Gareth Seddon at the far post but his header lacked the force to beat Nosakhare Aghayere, who was able to get a hand to the ball.

The keeper was then fortunate to see a scuffed shot from Seddon cleared off the line and a shot from Luke Thompson bounce over off the top of the bar after he had spilled a corner.

Colne, though, were not without threat and tempers mounted when Spencer Jordan was booked for simulation after claiming a penalty following a desperate tackle.

Undeterred, the visitors came out for the restart with resolve.

Ex-Rammy defender Mark Ayres and his centre-back partner Alex Coleman managed to get Seddon and Ryan Salmon under wraps and Michael Morrison took a firm grip of midfield, clamping down on Spencer, who was the sole source of Rams' creativity.

Once Colne took the lead from the spot – Ayres calmly rolling the ball into the corner of the net – the writing was on the wall.

Connor Gaul had already given warning of his ability to carry the ball at speed with a searing diagonal run in the first half. Just four minutes after Colne had gone in front he turned the Rams' defence, giving Oliver Wood the chance to force the ball home from close range.

The Rams threw men forward but were unable to get behind the Colne defence. Instead, they tried to unhinge the defence with short balls that were all too easily intercepted.

If anything, the Rams were guilty of trying to play too much football. In contrast, Colne hit the ball into space and played on the break to great effect. With 15 minutes remaining, Gaul picked the ball up on the edge of his box and set off on another searing run. Timing his pass perfectly he put Jay Hart clear in the box and his cross shot found the bottom corner.

The result ended a run of five matches without defeat for the Rams as they slipped back to 13th place in Evo-Stik First Division North.