Stockport Sports 1 Silsden 3

A SECOND-HALF comeback saw Silsden gain their first league win since mid-September.

Their opponents had been on a worse run but had been buoyed by a point at Winsford in midweek following a sequence of seven defeats.

Following that 3-3 draw, the Saxons had signed on another eight players, most of whom had experienced football at a higher level.

And the hosts' showed good touches to push the Cobbydalers back in the opening minutes when the Yorkshire boys were indebted to excellent tackles by Danny Fagan on Dimitri Tuanzebi and Jay Mehmet, and Kevin Ryan on Sam Fitzgerald.

On 17 minutes the Cobbydalers thought they had taken the lead when Zack Dale dissected the defence to set up Josh McNulty at the far post and he slid the ball home. However, the assistant's flag was raised for offside in what was a tight decision.

The best chance for the Cobbydalers came to Tom Henderson. Craig Nicholls carried the ball across the halfway line and slid it forwards to McNulty. Two touches later the ball was on Henderson's left foot on the edge of the box but his shot lacked any venom and it was clear that the injury he sustained in the fourth minute was restricting him. He was replaced by Dale Feather.

Silsden's defence were seemingly in control but the Saxons were gifted the lead on 35 minutes. Tuanzebi advanced into the away box but the ball was running away from the striker on the artificial surface. However, keeper Danny Thorpe charged off his line and dived for the ball. Tuanzebi went down and the referee awarded spot kick.

Thorpe was furious, certain he had got a hand on the ball and the general consensus was that he had. Ryan Humphreys converted the penalty to give the Mancunians an unlikely lead.

The goal spurred the Cobbydalers on as Danny Fagan hit the bar from a Ben Crabtree corner. A minute later, Silsden were dealt a blow when Craig Nicholls pulled up with a thigh strain and had to be replaced by Chris Wademan.

Silsden were soon on the attack in the second half – a barge on McNulty in the area looked a certain penalty but the official waved play on. It mattered not as on 57 minutes Kevin Ryan converted from a Dale corner.

Two minutes later Joe Jalil did well to chase down a ball and drove the ball back for Wademan to volley in at the far post.

Dale put the game out of the Saxons reach on 76 minutes when he timed his run perfectly to reach Feather's through ball and slot home.

Silsden assistant manager Ryan Haigh was delighted with the performance. He said: “The lads worked very hard but they used their heads. With the injuries to Henderson and Nicholls, other lads were given a chance.

"Fortunately, despite some players not featuring in every match, the squad is strong enough to cope with the injuries at the moment. Matty Moses is now back to full fitness and Andy Hill is nearly there.”

On Saturday Maine Road are the visitors to the Angel Telecom Stadium before the Cobbydalers travel to Garforth Town on Tuesday in the quarter-final of the West Riding Cup.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Deakin-Pickard, Crabtree, Jalil, Fagan, Ryan, McNulty (Moses 73), Mitchell, Henderson(Feather 27), Dale, Nicholls(Wademan 43). Subs not used Hollindrake, Hill.