SILSDEN AFC 1 v 1 ROSSINGTON MAIN FC

Hanson 41 Rowley 76 Att.92

NETTLETON OUTSTANDING AS DEFENCES DOMINATE

Silsden manager, Chris Reape, was bemused by the poor performance from his team but at least his team live to fight again. In fairness, his pre-match preparations were disrupted by the late withdrawals of Danny Husband and Martin Trickett in the morning and the warm up respectively. With Andy Lee and Chris Simpson unavailable, Reape called in James Nettleton, who, after a four week lay off, was due to have a run out with the reserves, and Michael Rosser. Joe Jalil and Matthew Kershaw were given their first starts of the season and defender Kristian Hargreaves made his debut as an attacker. Not an ideal situation.

Jalil and Kershaw have shown up well when coming off the bench but neither could make any impact on this game. Kershaw in particular look out of sorts, unable to time his runs for through balls and got no change from William Rowley and David Holvey who dominated in the air. Hargreaves had the best chance of the half when he broke through the Colliery’s centre backs to find himself with a one on one with Lee Appelby in the visitor’s goal. Hargreaves rushed his effort, blasting over the bar. Minutes later he hit a fierce drive marginally wide of the far post.

If the Colliery’s defence was in charge at one end, the same could be said at the other. The Silsden back four were outstanding, with Nettleton, a veteran of Silsden’s first ever FA Cup game at Hebburn in 2004, the pick of the bunch, closely followed by Ben Lamb, who has made an excellent start to the season.

Jake McEneany at left back has settled in well, adding composure and vision down the left and Arley Barnes kept the tricky Jason Stokes under control.

With defences on top, chances were at a premium. Peter Hanson cleared a corner out of the goal area early in the game and Mann saved Lee Holmes’ low shot midway through the half. Following Hargreaves’ efforts after thirty-five minutes, Silsden did exert some pressure. John Douglas saw his shot strike Kershaw before he was tripped in the box. Appelby saved HANSON’s spot kick but not the follow up which gave the Cobbydalers a tenuous lead at half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Appelby was swiftly off his line to deny Jalil after Barnes had slid the ball through. At the other end Niall Doyle wasted a good chance and then Nettleton forced Jordan Hatton’s shot for a corner following an excellent break by the visitors down the right. Jalil cleared the corner. Douglas tried hard to open up the Colliery’s defence but shot just over. Midway through the half Douglas found Danny McNulty free in the box. McNulty got a good contact on his header but Appelby managed to push it onto a post.

Minutes later William McGhie shot over the bar wasting a golden opportunity before the Cobbydaler’s defence was finally breached. Finally the home defence was breached when ROWLEY sent a speculative chip into the box. Mann was caught out by the flight as the ball drifted in at the back post.

Reape brought on three substitutes but apart from a header by Douglas, Silsden failed to create any more chances. McGhie went close with a deft chip with the match ending, fittingly, with another fine tackle from Nettleton, on substitute Jonathan Mirfin.

The Cobbydalers travel to Rossington on Tuesday for the replay.

SILSDEN AFC Mann, Barnes(Hird 76), McEneany, Hanson, Nettleton, Lamb, Douglas, Jalil(Sutcliffe 66), Kershaw, Hargreaves(Rosser 76), McNulty. Subs not used. Trickett, Husband.

ROSSINGTON MAIN FC Apellby, Spears, Doyle, Hatton, Rowley, Holvey, Holmes, McGhie, Charlton, Hilton(Mirfin 62), Stokes, Subs not used. Jepsom, Wisdom.

Referee. Mr K. Sarsfield.

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