Silsden hit for six as Mac strikes (From Craven Herald)

Linnets hit Silsden for six as hot-shot McDowell nets four times

9:46am Thursday 14th February 2013 in Sport

Runcorn Linnets 6 Silsden 1

Silsden have now let 11 goals in during their last two games as Ross McDowell struck four times in the second half to see Linnets come from behind to claim an emphatic North West Counties Premier Division victory.

Following the 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Glossop, Paul Schofield rang the changes.

Danny McNulty returned to left back, Jake McEneaney switched to centre back and Scott Price came into midfield, with Danny Stubberfield on the right.

The major change, however, came with the need to defend in numbers when the opposition had possession.

This worked well in the opening half and Silsden even took the lead on the stroke of half-time, but once they fell behind, the back four were left exposed as Silsden chased the game.

Since the acquisition of play-maker Kyle Hamid from Stockport Sports, the Linnets have been on a six-match winning run and he pulled the strings throughout.

Runcorn dominated for much of the opening period. The Cobbydalers keeper Jordan Watson made an excellent save from Adam Wade.

Danny Husband’s superb tackle broke up another attack and then Burke failed to make contact with an inswinging corner.

Midway through the half, Silsden should have taken the lead. Joe Gaughan shot wide, having dribbled through the Linnets defence.

And when Kevin Ryan slid Gaughan’s pass to the unmarked Mike Garrod, the Silsden marksman sliced his shot wide, with keeper Judge struggling to get across his goal.

Watson made a fine save from Burke’s header before Silsden took the lead on 43 minutes.

Judge conceded a free kick on the left, which Ryan drove into the box. Wademan missed it but Garrod flicked it over the line. However, within a minute, Runcorn were level through Mark Houghton, who shot into the bottom corner.

Despite the equaliser, Scho- field was happy to be going in level at the break but it didn’t take long for the Linnets to settle the matter. Hamid rose unchallenged in the box to head down for McDowell to tap in after 47 minutes.

The Linnets made it 3-1 after 50 minutes when a shot from Hamid was parried out and McDowell got his second.

Gaughan should have pulled one back a minute later when he rounded Judge but he dragged his shot wide.

McDowell completed an eight-minute hat-trick following a goalmouth scramble in the 55th minute and Simpson added a fifth with a well-timed run.

From being 1-0 up, the Cobby-dalers had gone to 5-1 down in the space of 13 minutes.

There was only pride at stake now for Silsden as Husband hit the bar after a flick on by Garrod. But McDowell had the last word with his fourth and only a fine save from Watson and a goal-line clearance by Moses prevented further damage.

Silsden visit lowly St Helens on Saturday.