SILSDEN AFC 2 v 2 ROSSENDALE UNITED

Gray 32, Heap 86(pen) Doherty 1, Hart 22. Att. 201

RESILIENT COBBYDALERS RECOVER FROM EARLY SHOCK

The Cobbydalers, playing their first game home game under the new floodlights, were rocked after only twenty three seconds, when Rossendale took advantage of a defensive error to open the scoring. Worse was to follow with the visitors going two goals up after twenty minutes. It looked as if the floodgates would open but gradually the Silsden outfit pulled a goal back. Four minutes from time the Cobbydalers were awarded a fortuitous penalty, which was dispatched by Sam Heap, to give them a share of the spoils.

Over two hundred turned up at the Asda Foundation Stadium to witness the switching on of the lights but, at one time, it looked like the only event which the locals would have to gasp at, was the magnificent sun-set. Rossendale, who had been relegated from the Unibond League last season, had managed to hang on to several of their players. They proved a strong test for the young Silsden outfit, who had done so well four days earlier at Maine Road.

With manager, Chris Reape, away on a coaching course, it was left to his deputy, Mick Tillotson, to lead the team. “Tilly” made only one change, bringing in Andy Doogan for Darren Fletcher.

The Cobbydalers were soon given a lesson by the speedy Rossendale forwards. An underhit back pass by Ben Lamb in the opening minute, gave Daniel DOHERTY a chance to lob Chris Thompson in the Silsden goal. Eighteen year old Jason Hart then tormented the Silsden defence, although the first of his resulting shots was straight at the Silsden keeper and a second flew just wide.

Silsden broke down the right. A long ball was flicked on by David Gray to Sam Heap who put in a dangerous cross, but Brocklehurst, in the Rossendale goal, gathered it well. The pace of the visitors forwards was causing the Silsden defence all sorts of problems. Doherty sped down the right and Hart flicked the ball goalwards but Thompson gathered it at full stretch. Lee Thomson did manage to get into the Rossendale box but his first touch was a tad too heavy and the chance was wasted. Again Hart sped down the left, reaching the by-line before pulling the ball back. The Lancastrians were rampant but they failed to drive home their advantage until the twenty-second minute, when Wolden ghosted past Arley Barnes on the left. HART was left with an easy tap in to make it 2-0. The Silsden fans wondered how many the visitors would score, but when Wolden went off with an injury, the sting seemed to disappear from the Rossendale outfit.

Finally Silsden came into the game. Lee Reilly had a shot blocked before a neat one two between GRAY and Heap saw the former half-volley Silsden’s opener. An ambitious volley from Rob Barraclough sailed over the bar whilst Gray and Heap began to gain some domination in the air. On the stroke of half time, Reilly cut inside one defender and outside another, forcing Brocklehurst to save with his feet.

Although the Lancastrians dominated the midfield in the second half, Silsden held firm. Chris Thompson blocked well with his feet from Doherty, before the keeper made an excellent save from Thomas. Rossendale continued to waste chances with Doherty slicing wide from only ten yards out. Thomson kept the Cobbydalers in the game with an acrobatic backwards dive to tip over Doherty’s deflected cross.

There then followed a spate of bookings. First Peter Hanson received two cautions and this was closely followed by a second booking for Lee Thomson. Silsden were down to nine men. Rossendale failed to punish them and then had Hart sent off for retaliation.

As the visitors pushed forwards, Lamb made a last ditch tackle to deny them a third and then Arley Barnes pushed up the right to hit a fierce, low shot from twenty five yards out which Brocklehurst, at full stretch, pushed for a corner. The ball was swung in and Gray flicked it on. The ball struck the arm of a Rossendale defender and the whistle went. Heap coolly netted the spot kick. The Cobbydalers held out for a point. A point gained! Definitely. The Silsden youngsters will have learned a lot from the experience. They showed great resilience in initially hanging on when the Rossendale forwards were rampant.

The next game at the Asda Foundation Stadium in on Saturday, Sept 4^th against Tow Law Town from the Northern League in the F.A.Vase. This is followed by a trip to Colne on Tuesday, Sept 7th

SILSDEN AFC C. Thompson, Barnes, Barraclough, Doogan, Lamb, P.Hanson, Reilly(J. Barker),

L. Thompson, Heap(Hunter), Gray(Longley), Hird. Subs. dnp Fletcher, J Barker, D.Whiteoak.

ROSSENDALE UNITED Brocklehurst, Wedge, Bancroft(Mooney), Kershaw, Winstanley, Bockarie, McNally, Thomas, Doherty, Hart, Wolden(Swift). Subs. dnp Moriah-Finch, Otutu, Bancroft.