Colts enjoy another away day to stretch unbeaten record

Richard Kirwan shows his bravery for Colts

Colts, looking to follow up their historic Scottish Cup win the previous weekend, started quickly at Prestonpans, dominating the early possession and creating good early chances.

After fine interplay on the right between Robbie Duncan, Ross Ballantyne and Andy Selkirk, Jamie Barclay was played in by Jonathan Black and, from 12 yards out, he forced a fine save from home ’keeper Christopher Flockhart.

Another fine piece of play involving Ballantyne, Black and Selkirk set up Broadfoot who cleverly stepped inside his marker and fired inches over.

As the visitors took control Richard Kirwan combined with Alex Tilley before delivering a wonderful inswinging cross which Selkirk rose to head towards the top corner, but Flockhart pulled off a superb save, throwing himself full stretch to his left to tip the ball round the post.

Colts continued to create and Black headed over from eight yards from a Ballantyne centre before Richard Kirwan was found well by Broadfoot only to fire powerfully wide of the upright with the ’keeper beaten.

Colts should have had the game out of sight before the home side got near Sam George’s goal, but when they did venture forward their attacker sidefooted well wide from inside the six-yard box when a goal looked certain.

Barclay had the final Colts chance of the half, hitting the post with a header from a Broadfoot delivery from eight yards out.

Colts could have found themselves behind just five minutes into the second period when the home side were awarded a penalty.

But George dived full stretch to save one-handed from the home side’s solitary shot on target and was then up sharply to smuggle away the rebound.

Colts finally got the goal their dominance deserved when Ballantyne latched onto a loose ball, drove into the area past three tackles and pulled across to Black who rifled the ball past the, for once, helpless ’keeper into the top corner from 12 yards.

Preston were reduced to 10 men when their substitute was red carded for leading with an elbow in a challenge with Munn.

Kirwan, wearing a Terry Butcher style head bandage, looked sharp to snuff out a home attack before Colts sealed victory with a second.

Substitute Ian McIntyre travelled half the pitch before picking out Broadfoot who took a wonderful first touch away from his man and finished low under the diving ’keeper.