SILSDEN AFC 0 v 2 NEW MILLS FC

Meakin(pen) 22, Wharton 41. Att.102

WHARTON STARS FOR JOLLY MILLERS

The Millers, who missed out on promotion on the final game of last season, looked back to their best at Cougar Park, giving the Cobbydalers a lesson in swift passing football and good support play. The Cobbydalers struggled in midfield where they were lacking a ball player and once again it was left to the defence to try to keep them in the game.

Following successive defeats after a run of four wins, the Cobbydalers needed some good fortune. Despite the Millers creating numerous chances, the opening goal was fortuitous to say the least. When Martin Bland was struck on the chest in the penalty area midway through the first half, the referee awarded a spot kick for hand ball. Even the hardcore of Millers' fans acknowledged it was a harsh decision. MEAKIN drove the spot kick wide of Gavin Phillis in the Silsden goal. The Millers are known for their mean defence and when WHARTON netted a second just before the break, it looked an insurmountable task for the Cobbydalers.

The Millers continued to waste chances and nearly paid for it. It was only in the final twenty minutes that the Cobbydalers finally applied any pressure on the visitors’ goal. McNulty threaded a ball across the box where Chris Simpson was denied by a despairing tackle. Substitutes Peter Hanson and Kevin Ryan then combined well, the latter having his shot deflected for a corner. In the eighty third minute Simpson swivelled at the near post to volley Bland’s flicked header to the top corner. Millers’ keeper, Chris Fidler, made a fantastic save. Five minutes later Ryan, receiving the ball with his back to goal, turned sharply to fire in a sharp shot. Fidler’s second save was even better than his first. Two moments of quality from Silsden show the gap between success and failure is not so wide. However, coaches Morgan and Schofield have some thing to do about the lack of form of some players and the balance of the midfield.

Injuries haven’t helped the situation and the Cobbydalers played as in the hope of expecting something to happen rather than working hard to achieve it. In contrast the Millers were swift to close down space in midfield and sharp with their passing. Wharton had a shot early following a good break from midfield and Turner almost dribbled through the defence only to be halted by Sean Airey. Silsden had their first clear opportunity following a corner. Rob Morgan, who had chased the ball out to the right, managed to get in a cross to the far post. Bland reached the ball but could only head wide.

The Millers then exerted pressure with some inswinging corners. Turner headed one wide but Kharas managed to head past Phyllis only to see Airey head off the line. MEAKIN’S opener took the wind out of the Cobbydalers but the Millers failed to capitalise on their chances. Kharas should have hit the target following Whartons’s cross then Meakin shot over the bar. A sublime flick by Wharton deceived Morgan but Kharas, with the goal at his mercy, blasted high over the bar.

When Simpson chased a back pass there looked to be little on but Fidler’s clearance struck the Silsden striker and rebounded to the relieved keeper. Phillis saved with his feet when Meakin cut in from the right before the Millers scored their second. Morgan blocked WHARTON’s first shot but not the second, which Phillis failed to reach. When Bowler hit the bar, Airey headed clear. The Millers were rampant but failed to add to their lead, overplaying their passing.

The Derbyshire boys continued to dominate the middle of the park in the second half. Rob Barraclough, at left back, found Wharton a constant menace but the youngster will learn from the experience. Once again Airey and Nettleton held things together at the back.

For once Thompson was crowded out and the midfield missed some invention. One had to feel sorry for Simpson who was left to chase endless high balls. His partner, Sean Clifford, was bright early on but the promise soon faded and it was only with the introduction of Hanson and Ryan that the Cobbydalers looked lively. Back to the drawing board!

Next Saturday the Cobbydalers visit Winsford United followed by a trip to Padiham on Tuesday September 15^th.

SILSDEN AFC Phillis, Nettleton, Barraclough, Airey, R. Morgan, Bland, Thompson(Ryan),, Hird, Clifford (Hanson), Simpson, McNulty, Subs dnp. Thorpe, Throup, White.

NEW MILLS FC Fidler, Whitehead, Mather, Smith, Band, Innes, Meakin, Bowler, Kharas, Turner(Robinson), Wharton(Taylor), Subs. dnp. Arnold, Flowers, Ryan.