Silsden 0, Congleton Town 0

Following a week of mixed fortunes, the Cobbydalers were hoping to treat their fans to another three points – but in the end they had to settle for a point from last Saturday's North West Counties League Premier Division match.

With Chris Wademan departed and Lee McGowan suspended, Andy Geary bought in Will Storrie to lead the attack and Anthony Lynch to play on the left, with Josh McNulty given a roaming role.

Both sides had periods of domination but neither could convert any of their chances.

The match began with a booking for skipper Danny Gleave in the opening minute – one of nine in a game which wasn’t dissimilar to the previous week in which there was only one caution!

The Bears had a golden chance to open the scoring from an early free-kick but Scott Sephton headed Chris Middleton’s cross wide.

Silsden then went close following a corner from McNulty, Martin Pearson flapping at the ball but Andy Hill heading into the side-netting.

On four minutes, a defence-splitting pass from Lynch saw Storrie break through with a well-timed diagonal run but his shot curled agonisingly wide.

The Bears, with the wind at their backs, then began to dominate possession but Danny Fagan blocked Jack Graham’s effort and Hill cleared another Sephton header for a corner.

Midway through the half, Storrie again outpaced the defence but Pearson was swiftly off his line to push the striker’s shot for a corner.

Ed Hall, in the Silsden goal, made a similar save to deny Simon Thompson.

In the second half, the Cobbydalers were soon on the attack, Ben Crabtree shooting over after good interplay down the right.

In a ten-minute spell, Silsden created four half-chances, Lynch’s shot being tipped past the far post and McNulty’s weaving run to the by-line leading to another Pearson save.

Gleave’s firm header then cleared the bar before the skipper’s drive was blocked by Andy Langford.

Mikey Hall and Tom Sowerbutts came on for Owen Deakin-Pickard and Lynch, and Hall looked particularly sparky.

Man of the match Crabtree then denied Congleton three times in the final ten minutes, and boss Andy Geary said: “I suppose if you’d asked me before the game if I would settle for a point, I would probably have said yes.

“I was delighted by the way we played. Maybe we just needed lady luck.”

Silsden are at in-form Glossop on Saturday.

SILSDEN: E Hall, Moses, Hargreaves, Gleave, Fagan, Hill, Deakin-Pickard (Sowerbutts 72), Crabtree, Storrie, Lynch (M Hall 67), McNulty (Rosser 82).

CONGLETON TOWN: Pearson, Middleton, Ting, Langford, Alston, Graham, Pezo(James 57), Sephton, Thompson, Moores, Koral. Substitutes ( not used): Jones, Bayley.

Referee: Mr M Connell. Assistant referees: Mr J Payne and Mr M Sowerby.

Runcorn Linnets 1, Silsden 0

Silsden battled hard but could not prevent hosts Runcorn Linnets from taking over the leadership of the North West Counties League Premier Division on Tuesday night.

Matthew Atherton headed the only goal early in the second half.