SILSDEN AFC 1 v 0 PADIHAM FC

Trickett 44 Att.126

MANN KEEPS THE STORKS AT BAY

This was the proverbial game of two halves with the Cobbydalers dominating the opening exchanges but Padiham coming back strongly in the second half, following Martin Trickett’s opener on the stroke of half time. In the end, Silsden were indebted to keeper James Mann who made two point blank saves in the second period.

Manager Reape, who was without Simpson, brought in the experienced Neil Reynolds to bolster the midfield, replacing the injured Kevin Ryan with Matthew Kershaw.

Andy Lee was to the forefront in the early exchanges, firing a free kick over the bar before shooting weakly after a break down the left involving Jake McEneany and Trickett. Trickett then shot wide after his pace had taken him past the least defender. A superb cross from Matty Kershaw was headed clear by Jonathan Lea before Lee broke clear from the half way line, only to be pulled back by John Blackley, who was lucky to escape with only a caution.

Another run down the left by Lee gave Trickett a clear chance but he couldn’t keep his header down and the game was twenty minutes in before Fildes had the Storks first effort after a break down the right. The visitors finally settled, managing a period of sustained possession. Good defensive headers by Ben Lamb and Danny Husband denied any chances until Andrew Sensale managed to get in a shot, powerful but over the bar.

Back came Silsden with McNulty down the left. Sean Davis spilled the cross under pressure from two attackers whom the official deemed had impeded the keeper. Silsden were exploiting the weakness down the Padiham right and Lee whipped in another cross. Kershaw volleyed goalwards but a deflection off a defender took the sting out of his shot. Husband should have opened the scoring when he was unmarked at the far post. Reynolds picked him out but the defenders header was off target.

For all the pressure, it looked like Silsden would go in at the break without opening their account. Once again it was Lee who provided the opening. This time TRICKETT volleyed over the Storks keeper.

Hypothetical teacups must have been thrown in the Padiham dressing room at half time. They dominated much of the second half, exploiting Silsden’s desire to score a second. Damien Morrison broke past Barnes in the opening minute but shot over the bar. Minutes later he curled an effort to the far post which Mann reached at full stretch. Husband broke up a break involving Sensale and Fildes and then a superb tackle by Lamb denied Morrison, after Mann had failed to hold Michael Harrison’s outswinging cross.

As in the first half, the team under pressure did manage to break out occasionally. John Douglas had a low shot saved before setting up Kershaw, but the striker’s header was off target. Back came the visitors. Harrison had a header deflected for a corner. Barnes was caught out when no-one covered for him as he overlapped on the right. Jordan Hulme, who had acres of space on the left, cut inside Lamb but wasted yet another chance.

Lee went close to netting a second for the Cobbydalers but both efforts were just too high before Douglas shot weakly.

When the teams met in the penultimate game of last season at the Arbories, Padiham won two-nil. The star of the show was Fildes who hit the woodwork twice with a drive and a chip. The striker was subdued for most of the match but he finally came to life late in the game. With Barnes caught out again, Fildes used the space to good effect, breaking forwards to create a one on one with Lamb, the defender just managing to hold up the striker before reinforcements arrived. Finally Fildes did get through the defence. He looked certain to score but Mann somehow managed to deflect the close-rage shot onto the post. Mann again beat two attackers to the ball as substitute, David G ray, headed goalwards from close range.

A speculative volley from the impish Lee nearly gave the Cobbydalers a second but it looked as if they would have to settle for one. They did, although Silsden substitute, Lee Sutcliffe, on in the eighty-seventh minute for Trickett, saw his late effort tipped onto the post by Davis.

The win was very satisfying, especially against a team who finished fourth last season, but if truth be told, had the strikers of either team taken more their chances, it could have been anybody’s game. Silsden’s desire to push too many men forwards when leading might have been entertaining but it could also have been costly, had it not been for Mann’s crucial saves.

SILSDEN AFC Mann, Barnes, McEneany, Reynolds, Husband, Lamb, Douglas, Lee, Kershaw, Trickett(Sutcliffe 87), McNulty(Hird 82), Subs not used, Geary, Jalil, Eastwood.

PADIHAM FC Davis, Walker(Little 69), Lea, Morrison, Blackley, Parkes, Sensale (Gray), Harrison, Hulme, Fildes, O’Neill(Carey 76)