SILSDEN AFC 3 v 2 NELSON FC

M. Morgan 13, Ogunyode 3,

A. Whiteoak 22, Heap 40,

Throup 78. Att.89

THROUP’S LATE HEADER SINKS NELSON

Playing with ten men for over an hour following the dismissal of Matthew Morgan, Silsden managed to notch an unlikely victory thanks to Throup’s late header. Having surrendered a two-one lead towards the end of the first period the odds looked stacked against the Cobbydalers but the ten men showed a steely resolve in the second half and might have won more comfortably had they been able to convert the chances they created.

Schofield was able to name an unchanged side following the FA Cup victory over Colne. The Cobbydalers could have taken the lead in the first minute when Chris Simpson latched on to Harry Thompson’s through ball but Nelson keeper Chris Thompson managed to parry the ball for a corner. However it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Chris OGUNYODE following a swift break down the right. Nelson continued to break at pace and Heap went close with a snap shot before Ogunyode skipped past Throup on the right only to be halted by Shaun Airey’s fine challenge.

Matthew Morgan then played the hero and the villain. When awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, up stepped MORGAN to curl the ball into the far corner of the Nelson net with the keeper rooted firmly to his line. From two successive Morgan corners both Throup and Matthew Bland headed over the bar. At the other end Higgins got the better of Barraclough and Thorpe had to come out of his area to clear another breakaway from Nelson. Silsden took the lead midway through the half when Adam WHITEOAK

latched onto Throup’s long ball to coolly slide the ball past Thomson’s outstretched fingers.

Matthew Morgan was then shown a second yellow card to leave Silsden with ten men. His first booking looked harsh even in the light of the modern game. Having shown him one card the referee had no alternative but to show him a second card for a lunge at the ball. How the game has changed since the days of Norman “bite yer legs” Hunter and “Chopper” Harris!

Harry Thompson then saw a deft chip tipped over the bar whilst Ogunyode shot weakly from a promising position. Whiteoak’s improvised scissors kick,although off target, showed the striker’s sharp reactions. Silsden keeper Daniel Thorpe was excellent in coming out of his box to act as a sweeper when the Silsden rearguard pushed up. However the Cobbydaler’s defence was finally caught out by a long ball when HEAP sprinted past Airey to leave Thorpe helpless.

The game should have been Nelson’s for the taking but Ogunyode once again failed to get enough power on his shot. In fact it was the Cobbydalers who created the better chances. The Nelson keeper could only parry James Nettleton’s free kick and when the full back combined with Harry Thompson, the keeper deflected the shot for a corner. Silsden managed to keep the Nelson backs stretched for a five minute spell. When Bland headed goalwards, Joel Ettienne flicked the ball into the bottom corner but Chris Thompson parried the ball for another corner. Thompson made an even better save when Bland headed Barraclough’s free kick low to the keeper’s right. Throup then headed wide before Simpson volleyed over when Ettienne curled over a sharp cross. Simpson then saw a snap shot blocked by the keeper

It looked as though it was Nelson who had the ten men but with scores level the result was still in doubt. Nelson seemed to lose direction but a chance fell to substitute Bonny. He blasted over.

Finally Silsden got the vital goal. Thompson swung over yet another corner and this time there was no chance for the visitor’s defence. THROUP headed powerfully over the line.

Fatigue was beginning to creep in but the goal gave the Cobbydalers a second wind. Strikers Simpson and Whiteoak ran tirelessly to deny the Nelson defenders time and space. There was one last twist to the game. The game was in stoppage time when Throup was caught out by a long ball. Heap was through on it in a flash but Thorpe was off his line swiftly to dive at the striker’s feet. He has settled into the No.1 slot so quickly!

SILSDEN AFC Thorpe, Barraclough, Nettleton, Airey, Throup, Bland, H. Thompson(M.Morgan), Ettienne, A. Whiteoak, Simpson (D.Whiteoak), M. Morgan Subs. dnp. Clifford, White, Kershaw.

NELSON FC C. Thompson, Prescott, Mugan, Berry(Williams), Wright(Bonny), Luker, Ogunyode, Higgins(Lomas), Heap, Cheetham, Hargreaves Subs dnp. M.Taylor, Steele