Abbey Hey 1 Silsden 2

After a three-week lay-off due to the weather, Silsden maintained their climb up the table with victory at the Abbey Stadium.

Ryan Haigh, in charge due to the absence of Andy Geary, brought in two new players, midfielder Michael Morrison and striker Robert Grimes.

Abbey were nine points below the Cobbydalers but history suggested they would face a difficult game, having never completed the double over the Mancunians before.

They lost the season's opener at the Angel Telecom Stadium 4-1 and have struggled for much of the campaign but, true to their style, they played some neat triangular football on the floor and created more chances than Silsden in the first half.

The first chance fell to the home side, John Hardy firing over after Liam Murray had cut across the goal.

A low shot from Sam Freakes was easy for Silsden keeper DannyThorpe before Ben Lamb sent Ben Crabtree free on the left, his cross being well held by Jonathan McIlwaine. Brandon Zibaka tried an ambitious overhead kick which sailed over the bar before the Abbey were awarded a fortuitous free-kick on the edge of the Silsden area.

Crabtree had been held in the box trying to clear the ball. He broke free but his tackle on the edge of the area was deemed dangerous and he was cautioned. Liam Murray's shot was blocked by the Silsden wall.

Andy Hill created the visitors' best openings. He has struggled to find his best form but was spreading the ball with some superb vision and execution. Twice he sent Josh McNulty away down the left but nought came from the winger's crosses.

When Thorpe saved Freakes' low shot after Justin Pickering had cut in from the left, it looked like the teams would go in 0-0 at the break. However, an excellent corner from Hill was met by Lamb in the air and headed over the helpless McIlwaine.

Silsden have been guilty of conceding early in the second half too often this season and, true to form, Abbey equalised through Hardy a minute after the restart, the ball having been patiently worked across the edge of the Silsden box before an opening appeared.

Silsden got their act together as Joe Mitchell weaved his way between three men before setting up Grimes, the striker's shot being deflected for a corner. Hill swung the ball over and Kevin Ryan slid the ball home from close range on 52 minutes for what proved to be the winner.

Hey searched for another equaliser but couldn't beat Thorpe, who saved from Zibaka after the Cobbydalers were caught out by a quickly-taken free-kick.

Excellent defending by McNulty led to another break by the Cobbydalers before Craig Nicholls was replaced by Danny Riley, a former Silsden junior who had been studying in Texas. Riley's pace soon caused problems in a tiring defence but Mitchell couldn't get enough power on his shot.

Owen-Deakin Pickard came on for Hill and Matthew Moore, another new signing, for McNulty, before Grimes finally got free of the shackles of Freakes, bringing a good save from McIlwaine.

The referee penalised Crabtree for another tackle he deemed as dangerous and the full back was given his marching orders for a second yellow.

Silsden looked to be heading for the victory but, in the final minute, Thorpe pushed a low free-kick on to his left-hand post for a corner.

Picking up the pieces after a lay-off is not easy, especially with four new players on view, but this was Silsden's third win on the bounce.

On Saturday the Cobbydalers travel to AFC Blackpool, where a win would take them within a point of last season's final tally.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Moses, Crabtree, Mitchell, Ryan, Lamb, Hill (Deakin-Pickard 81), Morrison, Grimes, McNulty (Moore 68), Nicholls (Riley 63). Subs not used: Fagan, Henderson.