PADIHAM FC 0 v 4 SILSDEN AFC

Douglas 37(pen), 60

Husband 88, Bryan90. Att 155

DOUGLAS DOUBLE GIVES COBBYDALERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Cobbydalers started the U.K “Sporting Year” in style with a comprehensive victory over near-neighbours Padiham. Following a fairly barren spell, Silsden scored four goals for only the second time this season. Reape was able to make one change, skipper James Nettleton replacing the unlucky Ben Lamb. “The Storks” included former Cobbydaler, Sam Heap, for his second game.

The Arbories pitch had withstood the weather well, although a strong wing blowing down the slope made dealing with the high ball tricky for defenders. The Storks had the advantage of both slope and wind in the first half.

Joe Gaughan had two efforts early on. His first shot, across the goal from the right, went just above the far post and his second gave Josh Boothman, in the home goal, a routine save. Padiham looked dangerous on the break. Right-back Louis Edwards sent over a deep cross, which Arley Barnes headed for corner. Edwards curled it in. Danny Husband cleared for another corner. A speculative shot from Heap, from forty-five yards out caught Mann off his line but the wind took the ball over the bar.

A free-kick from Barnes was headed out to the edge of the box, where John Douglas volleyed it wide of Boothman’s far post. The Storks then created two good chances. A neat turn from Damien Morrison gave Lee Morris a chance but he shot wastefully over. Within a minute Morris was free again. He looked two yards offside but no flag was raised. Mann narrowed the angle and Morris shot powerfully, but directly at the Silsden keeper.

Silsden’s opener came the result of a penalty. Andy Lee’s corner was elbowed by John Blackley. DOUGLAS dispatched the spot kick comfortably. Padiham had two more chances before the interval but both were wasted. Again Morris was the culprit, shooting over after some good build up between Heap and Morrison and then directly at Mann.

The Storks attacked down the right at the start of the second half. Chris Ridehalgh shot over and then Morrison brought a save from Mann. Danny Bryan then got the better of Shaun Carey but Boothman managed to parry his shot. A square ball from Bryan then found Douglas, who twisted past Blackley before shooting. Boothman tipped it over the bar. Lee curled the resulting corner into the goal area. Edwards headed clear but only to Husband, who looked to have been tripped whilst in the act of shooting. No penalty this time. Finally Silsden got a second. Another Lee corner was punched out by Boothman but only to Douglas on the edge of the box. DOUGLAS drove it back into the top corner.

Padiham responded immediately. Heap drifted past Husband but his shot lacked power. Gaughan, put through by Hird, took a touch too many and was closed down, before Padiham had a free kick. Carey drove it into the Silsden area but Barnes headed clear. The Storks made a triple substitution. Immediately they created a chance. Craig Winters, on for Morris, crossed from the right. Mann was at his near post but somehow managed to save Heap’s close range volley at the far post. The keeper denied the Storks the opening they needed. From the corner, Haworth hit the bar. The ball bounced on the line and Mann gathered. It wasn’t Padiham’s day.

With Padiham on the attack, they were vulnerable to the counter attack. Bryan latched onto a misplaced pass and sped goalwards. He hit his shot over the bar. Bryan then sent Lee free. Lee cut in from the left but his curling shot was marginally wide of the far post. Finally the third came. Lee hit an inswinging corner, which went beyond the reach of Boothman. It was heading for the net but HUSBAND made sure. In the dying minutes Lee sent Bryan free. Boothman advanced out of his area but BRYAN rounded him and slid the ball home.

The result might have flattered the Cobbydalers a little, but the Storks had wasted opportunities when they were on top. Silsden have had games when chances have gone begging but it still felt good to start the New Year off with a comprehensive victory.

On Saturday Glossop North End are the visitors to the Aire valley.

PADIHAM FC Boothman. Edwards(O’Neill), Carey, Broderick, Blackley, Parkes, Ridehalgh(Winters), Morrison, Morris(Taylor), Heap, Haworth.

SILSDEN AFC Mann, Barnes, McEneaney, Hird, Husband, Nettleton, Bryan, P. Hanson, Gaughan(Trickett 79), Douglas, Lee. Subs not used Lamb, Wademan, Kershaw.