SILSDEN AFC 0 v 1 FLIXTON FC

C. Smith 71 Att.106

FIRST HALF DOMINANCE BUT NO GOAL FOR COBBYDALERS

The Cobbydalers were beaten by a seventy-first minute header from Chris SMITH, who rose above Danny Husband to give the Lions all three points. Of Silsden’s last eight games, only one has seen the result settled by more than the odd goal. Two one-nil defeats at the hands of top four teams, suggests there is only a fine line between success and failure.

Chris Reape brought in sixteen year old Chris Wademan to lead the attack, after some good performances in the reserves. It took the youngster time to settle into the game but once he gained the confidence, he did create some openings, working well with the experienced Andy Lee.

Silsden had an early escape in the opening minutes when they just managed to scramble the ball clear from the goal area. From that point, the Cobbydalers gradually began to establish some supremacy. Jake McEneany slid a ball down the left to Lenny Reid, who crossed low and hard into the box. Wademan was just beaten to the ball by centre back James Russell.

Midway through the half, Wademan released Lee. Keeper James Jowsie raced out of the penalty area to deny Lee, but the ball fell to Wademan who immediately hit a low drive towards the unguarded net. Only a desperate lunge by James Blair prevented the Cobbydalers taking the lead. When Reid cut in from the left, across the box, he was bundled over but nought came of the free kick.

In a break-away by Josh Bowman, Chris Smith blasted the ball over the Silsden bar. Pushed forwards by John Douglas, Silsden regained the initiative. Aaron Heveringham managed to clear a cross from Lee, whose movement was creating space for other runners. On thirty six minutes, Douglas shot over the bar, following good interplay between Wademan and Arley Barnes. When Wademan was flattened in the penalty only two minutes later, it looked a certain penalty but the match official waved play-on.

As the half came to an end, Smith blasted another effort over Mann’s bar. When Lee cut in onto another Wademan through ball, his shot lacked conviction.

If the first half had belonged to the Cobbydalers, the second certainly belonged to the Mancunians. Bowman and Matthews on the wings, worked several good openings and only a good block from Barnes of Matthews’ shot, saved the day, although Mann appeared to have the shot covered.

Kershaw came on for Reid to try to pep up the attack but it was the Lions who roared forwards. Nettleton’s excellent tackle denied Wayne Welbeck the opening goal. An uncharacteristic poor clearance from the Silsden skipper gave Welbeck the chance to cross and SMITH made no mistake with his fourth opportunity. Smith shot weakly when Welbeck created another opening.

Silsden made one last push in the dying minutes, when Douglas hit a deep cross to the far post. Substitute Hargreaves won the ball but his effort didn’t trouble Jowsie.

Chris Reape was frustrated at the end of the game as the Cobbydalers still search for the necessary goals to turn narrow defeats into victories. Certainly the overall level of passing and movement have improved as the team has become more stable.

On Saturday the Cobbydalers fans have the opportunity to see both sides in action. The Reserves face Fields in the County Cup at 1.00pm and then St. Helens visit The ASDA Foundation Stadium in the League Cup (3.00pm). On Tuesday, November 1^st, Silsden visit Garforth Town in the Senior County Cup Competition.

SILSDEN AFC Mann, Barnes, McEneaney, Hird, Nettleton, Husband, Douglas, P. Hanson, Wademan(Hargreaves 75), Lee, Reid(Kershaw 61). Sub not used S. Hanson

FLIXTON FC Jowsie, Blair, Drummond(McDonnell 82), Bailey, Russell, Hevingham, Bowman(T. Smith), Maynard, C. Smith, Welbeck, Matthews(Doran 83) Subs not used Whitehead, Williamson.

Referee Mr. K Sarsfield.