SILSDEN AFC 0 v 2 NEWCASTLE TOWN

Sheldon 80, Johnson 90. Att.118

COBBYDALERS GO OH SO CLOSE!

The Cobbydalers came agonisingly close to being the first team to take a point off League leaders, Newcastle Town, in a highly competitive game at Cougar Park. In the end they were finally undone in the eightieth minute when left back, John SHELDON, squeezed the ball under a despairing Martin Foulger. Such were the celebrations of the visitors, it was clear they had been pushed to the wire. A second goal in the dying seconds was harsh on the Cobbydalers who had thrown almost everyone forwards in an attempt to snatch a late equaliser.

The “Castle” came into the game having won all twenty two of their previous league games. If there was to be an upset, it might well have come against the Cobbydalers, who have proved something of a bogey side to the Staffordshire outfit over the previous four seasons. Unfortunately Chris Reape’s plans were rocked when leading scorer, Chris Simpson, had to pull out at the eleventh hour with flu symptoms. In the event, Reape plumped for a 4-5-1 system with Jamie Longley acting as a lone striker.

Keeper Martin Foulger, who has been plucked out of “Saturday retirement” to cover for the injured Rishton and Thorpe, was soon in the action. Martin Bland’s underhit pass was intercepted by Alan Naggington who bore down on the Silsden goal. Foulger managed to save the ball with his feet. Within a minute Naggington was cutting in from the right. His curled shot was just wide of Foulger but it struck the far post. Damian Whiteoak cleared the ball for a corner. After a goalmouth scramble Johnson reacted quickly to blast the ball goalwards from six yards out. Danny Finn threw his body in the way.

The visitors had shown their intent but Silsden’s response was immediate. Longley managed to flick a long ball down the left. Danny McNulty broke forwards and managed to get in a low cross from the by-line. Keeper Smith beat Harry Thompson to the ball by a fingertip. In an identical move a minute later Thomson beat the keeper to the ball but his shot struck the far post. The game was barely fifteen minutes old.

Newcastle, pushed forwards by Douglas, then enjoyed a period of dominance. Boast went close, following good work by the impressive Sheldon, and Foulger again denied Naggington, this time palming the ball away. Sheldon’s curling free kick went wide and Boast headed over. With Bland and Stephen Throup commanding in the air, gradually Silsden steadied the ship. There were some crunching tackles with neither side prepared to yield. With ten minutes to go to the break Sheldon reached the Silsden goal line. Spotting Skelton in space on the edge of the box, he pulled the ball back. Skelton opted to side foot the ball but his shot was saved easily.

Danny Finn then chased a long ball into the Newcastle half, all to no avail. The ball was cleared and eventually reached Budrys in the Silsden area. A deft back heal deceived Rob Barraclough leaving Johnson free. It looked as if the visitors would take the lead but in stormed Finn, having run the length of the pitch, to slide in and steal the ball.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Silsden were pushed back but still a threat on the break. Longley saw his header cleared for a corner and Bland was unable to get sufficient power on his effort to beat Smith. The Silsden defence held firm. Tim Hird and Whiteoak worked tirelessly to deny the visitors time and space. The closest the visitors came to scoring was a powerful shot from Skelton which rebounded off Foulger’s chest.

With little to do, centre back Dickie moved up to support the midfield but, following a neat one-two with Naggington, he shot wide. Finally the visitors created a clear opening. Johnson broke down the right at pace. His low cross fizzed across the box to the far post where Sheldon had drifted in, unnoticed. Foulger had been dragged to the near post but Sheldon sliced his effort wide.

Had Silsden weathered the storm? Whiteoak, Finn and McNulty worked their way up the left but it came to nought before Peter Hanson halted the next attack. Hanson slid the ball to Longley, who swivelled to hit the ball up the right. Thompson, who had no right to win the ball in a crunching tackle with Dickie, broke up the right and crossed into the box. Longley was on the charge but Espley, rather nervously, cleared for a corner. Bland rose above the defence but his header cleared the bar. The best chance then fell to Hird. Having won the ball in midfield, Hird played a one-two with Longley. He was in the clear but his touch let him down, giving Smith time to smother the ball.

With the game evenly poised, Dickie moved to the edge of the area. For once, the midfield gave away too much space and when the ball was moved to the unmarked SHELDON, the left back finally made amends for his earlier miss. Silsden threw men forwards and Finn tested the keeper with a low drive but the visitors held out. In the dying seconds JOHNSON made it two when he waltzed round the unprotected Foulger. It was a cruel blow as Hird had been fouled by Johnson as he went to head clear.

Once again the Cobbydalers left to a standing ovation, the fans acknowledging their total commitment. As for the visitors, it’s twenty three out of twenty three, very impressive statistics. Silsden will have another chance to halt their progress in April.

Next Saturday the Cobbydalers take to the East Lancs Road to the home of St. Helens.

SILSDEN AFC Foulger, Hanson, Barraclough, Throup, Bland, Finn, Longley, Hird, Thompson, McNulty, Whiteoak(Kershaw), Subs. dnp. Bathers, Khalif.

NEWCASTLE TOWN FC Smith, Espley, Sheldon, Donnelly, Dickie, Douglas, Johnson, Boast, Naggington, Budrys, Skelton. Subs. dnp. Smyth, Bourne, Willis, Platt, Morton.