ASHTON ATHLETIC 1v 2 SILSDEN AFC

Prescott 7, Simpson 12, 26

Att.22

UNLUCKY BARKER STARS FOR DOMINANT COBBYDALERS

That Silsden didn’t win this game by at least five was down to some fine saves from Gavin King and the woodwork. Silsden created a host of chances with several efforts going agonisingly wide. The Athletic are undergoing a rebuilding period, having lost nine of last season’s squad, whilst the Cobbydalers new boys seem to have slotted in well to the established core of the team.

Two goals from Chris Simpson gave Silsden the edge but it was Lewis Barker who caught the eye. Barker, who was in for the injured striker Adam Whiteoak, was unlucky not to notch at least a hat-trick. His link up play with Simpson and the impressive Harry Thomson was superb.

The Athletic worked hard in midfield but lacked a cutting edge up front. Thorpe had little to do save from gathering long balls. Despite their lack of creativity, the Athletic went ahead in the seventh minute when Airey and Throup went for the same ball. Throup sliced it into the path of PRESCOTT who coolly slid it under Thorpe.

Barker, whose first minute shot lacked power, should have notched the equaliser on the restart when he was faced with an open goal but the bounce deceived him and he hit his shot over the bar. Silsden’s opener wasn’t long in coming. Thompson slid the ball up the wing into the path of Joel Ettienne. The midfielder sprinted forwards and crossed into the box where SIMPSON drove it into the net.

Barker, through sheer persistence, got the better of the centre backs but King was swiftly off his line to dive at the striker’s feet. The linesman signalled for a penalty but the referee deemed that the keeper had been impeded by Barker. Bland then headed Matthew Morgan’s free kick wide of the far post before King dived full-length, forcing Thomson’s diagonal volley for a corner. Barker pulled away from his marker to head the corner marginally wide. On a rare sortie into the Silsden half, Hynes shot high and wide.

Silsden continued to maintain the pressure and SIMPSON added a second midway through the half with a deft chip over King from the edge of the box. Morgan then cut in from the left and shot low but again King tipped the ball for a corner. Throup headed over.

Bland headed another corner over before Nettleton played a one-two with Thompson down the right. Despite the narrow angle, the full back got his low shot on target. Thompson then weaved in and out of his marker on the left and crossed to the near post. Barker reacted the quickest to head into the far corner. Was this his moment? No! King, who was going the wrong way, twisted in mid air to get a firm hand on the header.

Athletic brought on Redmond for Kynaston. The substitute charged through at the opening of the second half, only to shoot wide. Silsden then broke forwards. Barker was through. His sharp drive hit the bar. King again denied Barker, tipping his chip over the bar following good work by Simpson.

Ashton were enjoying more possession but there was no end product. By pushing forwards there was plenty of space for Silsden to exploit. Thompson was in the thick of it. With his low centre of gravity and tight control, he was running amok. First he broke through to fire in a low shot, which King did well to reach. Then he sent Simpson away down the right. His cross reached Barker at the far post. Barker headed over King but left back Monahan cleared off the line.

Bland had a low shot cleared before Prescott wasted Athletic’s best chance of the half, shooting high over the bar, when he had drifted through the Silsden rearguard. Robert Morgan then replaced Bland. Immediately he broke through only to see his volley rattle the bar. Minutes later he found himself in even more space. His chip didn’t quite have enough height to beat King. In the dying minutes Barker shot wide meeting Matthew Morgan’s low cross at the near post and Thompson again broke through, once again to be denied by King.

Schofield was delighted with both the result and the performance but he knows tougher tasks lie ahead. Next Saturday Hallam FC are the visitors to Cougar Park in the FA CUP

ASHTON ATHLETIC King, Wallace, Monaghan, Bodie, Pickup, Winer(Hardman), Kynaston(Redmond), Davies, Johnstone, Prescott, Hynes Subs. dnp Hitchen, Novak, Fogg.

SILSDEN AFC Thorpe, Barraclough, Nettleton, Airey, Throup, Bland(R.Morgan),Thompson, Ettienne, Barker, Simpson (White), M. Morgan Subs. dnp. Schofield.