SILSDEN AFC 1 v 2 TOW LAW TOWN FC

Hunter 61. Scott 8, Harrison 75. Att 124

COBBYDALERS LACK THE NOUSE TO OPEN UP THE LAWYERS

The Cobbydalers went out of the FAVase at the first time of asking, with barely a whimper. Conceding a goal early on, Silsden never really recovered and although Lawrence Hunter pulled one back after sixty-one minutes, the Lawyers’ defence were hardly troubled by the long ball tactics of the Yorkshiremen.

The game started with Silsden having the territorial advantage but, with the Lawyers first break into the Silsden half after eight minutes, the home defence failed to clear on two occassions before the ball was hit low across the goal. Keeper Chris Thompson managed to parry Matthew Huntley’s effort but was left powerless to prevent Matthew SCOTT firing in from a yard out. Silsden responded with Hunter shooting wide and then Lee Thompson’s run was halted on the edge of the box by Michael Rosson.

Silsden were playing with Sam Heap and David Gray as twin strikers but far too often the ball was launched forwards in the air for a flick-on. The Lawyers’ centre backs were barely troubled by these tactics, with which the Cobbydalers persisted. It wasn’t as if the Cobbydalers couldn’t play a passing game on the ground. They had won at Maine Road with some swift movement and interplay. Only when Gray or Heap moved to the flanks were half chances created, otherwise Silsden didn’t use the width of the pitch. A good cross from Gray was fired over by Heap. Five minutes later Heap made a break down the left but, having cut inside onto his right foot, again shot over

The Cobbydalers defence seemed unnerved by the early goal. Peter Hanson was rescued by Arley Barnes, when he turned into trouble and then Scott Thompson shot over the Silsden goal when Rob Barraclough had failed to head clear. When Huntley managed to get past Andy Doogan on the right, Chris Thompson was again exposed, but the Lawyers striker shot wide. At the other end, the closest Silsden came was when Lee Thompson’s corner was tipped over. Thompson then burst into the Lawyers’ area but just ran ahead of the ball when about to shoot.

Whilst Tow Law created openings, they were profligate in front of goal, Huntley being the main culprit, heading Davison’s free kick over and then shooting wide, after he had cut across the Silsden box. Although the Lawyers had the edge, they had been unable to add to their opening goal and Heap nearly made them pay. Breaking into the goal area, the Silsden striker just lost control in the act of shooting but fought hard to get a corner, which came to nought.

Lee Thompson had a fierce drive blocked on the edge of the box by Rosson before Silsden did pull a goal back. There seemed little on when HUNTER chipped the Lawyers’ keeper who failed to tip the ball for a corner. Unfortunately for him, the ball struck the bar and rebounded into the net off his outstretched hand. With Matthew Bland replacing the injured Lamb, there was a change in the mood with Bland offering more composure. Minutes after Hunter’s goal, Silsden thought they had taken the lead. With a swift passing move across the box, space opened up for Jordan Barker, on for Arley Barnes. The ball was pushed into the path of Barker who shot under the keeper’s body, and into the net. However the assistant’s flag had been raised for offside.

Half chances fell to Heap and Thompson and then, at the other end, Chris Thompson blocked Huntley’s strike. Scott Thompson and Matthew Scott both created good openings only to shoot straight at the Silsden keeper, who was keeping the tie alive. Finally Lewis HARRISON netted the Lawyer’s second, following another goalmouth scramble. Chris Thompson saved Watkin’s point blank header and denied Parkinson with a dive at his feet to keep the crowd on their toes. But Silsden merely went for the aerial route which Tobin and Watkinson dealt with easily.

A disappointing result and performance. There is enough pedigree in the team but there is no substitute for experience. This may have been “just one of those days”.

SILSDEN AFC C.Thompson, Barnes(J.Barker), Barraclough, Doogan, Lamb(Matthew Bland), P.Hanson, Hird, L. Thompson, Gray, Heap, Hunter(Kershaw), Sub. dnp Martin Bland.

TOW LAW TOWN FC Robinson, Harrison, Davison, Tobin, Watkinson, Rosson, Watkins, S. Thompson, Scott, Huntley(Hall), Parkinson. Subs. dnp. Johnson, Turnbull, Dial, Innes