GARFORTH TOWN FC 3 v 2 SILSDEN AFC

Walker 8, Moke 71, Lee 9, Wademan 23

Priestley 75. Att 57

COBBYDALERS FINALLY SUCCUMB TO THE PRESSURE

The Cobbydalers came close to providing a shock in the first round of the County Cup. Leading two-one going into the final twenty minutes, the Silsden boys finally succumbed as Evo-stick outfit, Garforth Town, finally notched two late goals.

League form was thrown out of the window by a Cobbydalers team, which had the better of the first half. It didn’t start well with Benn Small opening the Silsden defence up with a through ball to Paul Walker. WALKER hit a dipping volley from the edge of the box, into the far corner of James Mann’s net. With only seven minutes on the clock, it looked like the Cobbydalers would find the Miners a handful. However, a minute later, Silsden were level. A long ball from Mann reached Andy Lee on the right. Cutting across the edge of the box, LEE hit a low drive wide of Ben Higginson to level the scores.

With little height in the forward line, Silsden kept the pressure on, with some neat interplay on the ground. Lee and young Chris Wademan were timing their runs behind the Miner’s defence, as the Cobbydalers were driven on by the impressive John Douglas in midfield. Danny Bryan and Kristian Hargreaves were working hard on the flanks to keep the pressure on the Garforth defence. Bryan shot wide from out on the left, but Higginson was forced to save at the feet of Hargreaves, when he drifted in at the far post. Both Jake McEneaney and Arley Barnes were providing more support for the attack.

Mann was called into action when Ben Thornton and Matt Mathers managed to get into the Silsden goal area. However it was the Cobbydalers who took the lead. Lee latched onto a ball from Bryan down the right. WADEMAN ran in to slide Lee’s cross beyond the reach of the Miner’s keeper.

Tim Hird was forced to concede a corner as Garforth responded with some neat one touch football. Thornton broke down the left to cross to Walker, who swivelled and shot, marginally wide.

Douglas saw a thunderous volley blocked by Chris Fisher and then Lee had a shot saved, after Douglas had split the Garforth defence.

Garforth then put the Silsden defence under pressure. Lamb denied Walker with a superb tackle, Hird blocked a shot from Ben Small and Nettleton, so commanding and assured, denied Thornton and Fernando Moke.

Former Leeds United youngster, Adam Priestly, came on for Small at the interval, as Garforth

strengthened their resolve. Walker broke through the Silsden defence too easily and Mathers was finally finding space on the right. The Miners began to mix “push-and-run” football with the occasional long ball. However the Cobbydalers still looked dangerous on the break. A cross from Barnes just eluded Wademan and Hargreaves saw his drive from a narrow angle cleared for a corner.

Silsden created a further opportunity to increase their lead. Bryan out paced Andy Villerman and pulled the ball back to Douglas. Douglas hit his shot wide of the target, although Wademan almost managed to deflect it home.

With Price and Hunter coming on for Garforth, the pressure increased. Mann made an excellent save from Walker after Moke had dribbled into the box. The game still swung from end to end but the Evo-stick outfit finally got the equaliser. Chris Williams had replaced Hargreaves but before the Cobbydalers could adapt to the change, Hird gave the ball away in his own half. MOKE dribbled past four defenders and slid the ball home.

Hird atoned for his error, blocking a fierce strike from Walker, who struck the rebound with even more power. Mann tipped it onto the bar. The Miners were rampant and it was no surprise when PRIESTLY added a third, in the seventy-fifth minute, having stepped past Lamb. The Cobbydalers looked down on their knees, but summoning energy from somewhere, they managed two late attacks, Wademan hitting Douglas’s cross marginally wide. Douglas had a speculative, long-range effort well held by Higginson in the final minute.

A cracking game with some excellent football. Hopefully the Cobbydalers can produce the same against third placed Winsford Town on Saturday.

GARFORTH TOWN FC Higginson, Turvey, Villerman, Dempsey, Pacey, Fisher(Hunter 69), Thornton(Price 58) Small(Priestley 45), Walker, Mathers, Moke. Subs not used Turner, Smith.

SILSDEN AFC Mann, Barnes, McEneaney, Hird, Lamb, Nettleton, Bryan, Douglas, Wademan, Lee, Hargreaves(Williams 69). Subs not used, Husband, P.Hanson.

Referee. Nigel Bannister