SILSDEN AFC 0 v 1 ST. HELENS TOWN

Butorins 7. Att. 60

COBBYDALERS DOMINATE POSSESSION BUT LACK THE END PRODUCT

With several players unavailable for a variety of reasons, Chris Reape was forced to bring in several young players from the reserves for the League Cup encounter with St Helens Town. Taking some time to settle with a new outfit, the Cobbydalers were on the back foot for much of the opening quarter. Once they settled down, they created some good chances but once again, no-one was able to apply the finishing touch.

A cross from Kristian Hargreaves might have led to an early opener for Silsden, but the ball skidded off Chris Wademan’s chest A powerful run from the half way line by Carl Addison went unchecked and Town were unlucky not to take the lead, when Addisons’s dipping shot rattled the bar. Andrew Ledgers shot across goal led to a corner, which was flicked on by Iain Dyson to leave Artjoms BUTORINS with an easy tap in. Dyson himself, headed over, following another fine cross from Ledger.

Silsden finally broke forwards after seventeen minutes. Arley Barnes curled a cross in from the right but Harvey Brigg’s header went wide. Another forward run by Barnes led to a low shot by Danny Bryan but Town keeper Dale Newbrook got down well to the shot.

The Cobbydalers had another escape, when a header from Michael Burns bounced on the Silsden bar. The rest of the half belonged to the Yorkshiremen. A cross from Hargreaves, on the left, found Wademan, who slid the ball to Bryan. Arley Barnes broke into the box to pick up the through ball. His first shot was blocked but he followed up, only to shoot over the bar.

When Andy Lee broke down the right, he found Wademan, who had pulled away from his marker, but a slight delay gave the Town defence time to recover. The half finished with Newbrook tipping Hargreaves’ low shot round the upright and Danny McNulty shooting over the bar.

The visitors were again on the back foot for much of the second half, which began with Wademan heading down for Bryan to slide the ball home, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Another shot from Bryan went wide, before Briggs was replaced by Chris Williams. Williams began to run at the Town defence from midfield and further openings were created. Wademan failed to get a clean header on another Hargreaves’ cross, and then Danny Bryan shot across the goal, after some excellent build up play involving James Nettleton, McNulty and Hargreaves.

Several promising moves broke down when the front-runners failed to time their runs and were caught offside. With Nettleton and Ben Lamb dominating, the Silsden defence had not been troubled much since the early exchanges. Gradually, with the Cobbydalers pushing forwards, the visitors created openings on the break. Christian Paulat-Briggs made two excellent saves, one from Ledger, who had broken through the defence, and a second from substitute Andrew Olsen. Reape brought on Rosser for Wademan in the hope of creating some danger in the Town penalty area but, as Silsden reverted to the hopeful high ball, they failed to create any clear-cut chances until the final minute, when Lee shot narrowly wide.

Reape hopes to have a stronger squad available for the Senior County cup game on Tuesday at Garforth. He has had the opportunity to see some youngsters. Wademan and Williams both caught the eye and Paulat Briggs in goal, became more confident as the game went on. Without a target man, the players have used the pass and run game effectively. All that is missing is the end product.

On Saturday Silsden face third placed Winsford United at home, whilst the Reserves entertain Fields AFC in the County Cup (1pm). (Apologies for misinformation last week.)

SILSDEN AFC Paulat-Briggs, Barnes, D. McNulty, Hird, Lamb, Nettleton, Bryan(Moses 67), Briggs(Williams 58), Wademan(Rosser 76), Lee, Hargreaves.

ST. HELENS TOWN Newbrook, Corrie, Hansard, Dyson(Frazer 42), Edwards, Burns, Clarke, Addison, Butorins(Olsen 82), Ledger, Quirk(Morgan 67). Subs not used Kavanagh, Owens.

Referee. Mr A Murphy.