SILSDEN AFC 5 v 6 GUISBOROUGH TOWN

Longley 2, Ryan 24, 90 Onions 10, 81

Simpson 48, Barraclough 86 Simcox 12, Henry 35, Luke Bythway 57

Played at Guisborough Town Att. 50

COBBYDALERS FALL SHORT IN ELEVEN GOAL THRILLER

For the fans this was pure entertainment but for the respective managers, a nightmare, with both defences being stretched to the limit. Silsden, having already conceded home advantage and with an extensive injury list, were without two further players who would have been able to play in a home tie. Manager Paul Schofield was forced to play with four natural centre- backs and to bring in Jamie Longley, himself awaiting a hernia operation, for his first match of the season. The Priorymen, having lost only one league game to date, came into the game on the back of a 9-1 F.A. Cup defeat at the hands of Kendal Town, who lie third in the Unibond Premier League.

Goals flowed throughout the game and it was the Cobbydalers who netted first. The game was only two minutes old when striker Kevin Ryan broke down the left. His cross to the far post beat the defence and keeper but not LONGLEY who headed it into the net. Ten minutes later the Priorymen were two one up. Butterworth had already shot wide following a good cross from the left before centre-forward David ONIONS brushed aside Stephen Throup and Rob Morgan to slide the equaliser home. Onions was to go on to give Morgan an afternoon he would hope to forget. On the restart Silsden surrendered possession and SIMCOX ran, unchallenged, across the Silsden box before hitting a firm shot goalwards. Sean Airy partially blocked the shot but it spun inside the post. When Roberts sped past Morgan, following a through ball from Portas, the Priorymen looked certain to increase their lead but a fine tackle by Airey kept Silsden in the game. The Cobbydalers equaliser came midway through the half when James Nettleton sent Throup free on the right. RYAN ran across his marker to head Throup’s cross in at the near post.

Neither side looked comfortable at the back. Harry Thompson opened up the Guisborough defence with a cross-field ball to Longley. Longley volleyed to the far post but the angle was too tight for Simpson who hit the side netting. At the other end superb interplay between Henry and Simcox once again opened up the Silsden defence but this time Phillis managed to deny Onions with his feet. Following Roddam’s volley over the bar Guisborough wasted another chance. Simcox, who played a one-two with Butterworth, shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Priorymen’s third goal came when Simcox broke down the left. Once again the defence was wide open and HENRY netted with ease. Silsden responded immediately. Simpson slid the ball in from the right to the near post. Again the lively Ryan beat the defence to the ball but Rafferty blocked it with his feet. Before the half was out, the Silsden defence, for once, managed to dispossess Onions and Airey had a snap shot at the other end.

Whether the respective managers’ half time team talks mentioned defence or not it had no effect on the game. Two minutes into the second half the referee awarded Silsden a “soft” penalty when Thompson was eased off the ball. SIMPSON made it 3-3. Two minutes later the official gave the Cleveland side an even “softer” penalty after Morgan allegedly pushed Onions. Phillis made a fine save of Luke Bythway’s under-hit spot kick but the keeper was at fault for Guisborough’s next goal. Chasing a ball to the edge of the box, the keeper lost possession to Onion’s who slid it across the face of the goal. BYTHWAY made amends for his penalty miss despite the efforts of Airey to clear the ball.

Onions volleyed over after a sharp turn as both Airey and Morgan closed him down and then Roberts brought a fine save out of the Silsden keeper. Silsden were still probing at the other end. Ryan headed over following a flick by Longley but Hird should have equalised when Simpson slid the ball back to him on the edge of the goal area.

Schofield’s frustration was clear to see when first SIMCOX ran unchallenged from the right wing to net Guisborough fifth and then ONIONS brushed aside Morgan to sprint through for the sixth. Between those goals Rob Barraclough had tested the Guisborough keeper with a drive from outside the box and Thompson had weaved his way in from the left. Reaching the near post he decided to shoot. The angle was tight and Rafferty was able to save. Simpson was unmarked with an open goal. Phillis denied Onions a hat-trick after he had once again out-sprinted the defence.

With ten minutes to go and 6-3 down Silsden mounted a final push. A superb cross from Longley deceived everyone except BARRACLOUGH who stole in at the back post to give Silsden hope. Rafferty made an outstanding save to deny Ryan before Morgan shaved the post with a sweet volley following Nettleton’s corner. RYAN made it 6-5 on ninety minutes but Silsden had run out of time. What the score might have been after extra time who knows?

SILSDEN AFC Phillis, Nettleton, Barraclough, Airey, R Morgan, Throup, Longley, Hird, Simpson, Ryan, Thompson. Subs. dnp. Bathers, Thorpe, Schofield

GUISBOROUGH TOWN FC Rafferty, Roddam, Proctor(Young), Lee Bythway, Portas(Hick), Butterworth, Simcox, Roberts(Farrington), Onions, Luke Bythway, Henry. Sub dnp. Gill

On Saturday the Cobbydalers travel to Alsager Town.