AFC Blackpool 0 Silsden 2

COBBYDALERS skipper Kevin Ryan netted two goals against the Mechanics on Saturday to make it four wins on the trot for the Yorkshiremen since the Boxing Day victory against Barnoldswick.

Centre back Ryan, who netted the winner at Abbey Hey a week earlier, opened the scoring six minutes after the break with a powerful free-kick after the hosts had been reduced to ten men.

Ryan then notched his second 15 minutes from time against a side who had drawn two and won one of their previous three games.

The Cobbydalers conceded a penalty in the 85th minute but the Mechanics squandered the chance to put the pressure on the Yorkshiremen.

Silsden assistant manager Ryan Haigh said: “Since Boxing Day and the victory over local rivals Barnoldswick Town, we have defiantly ground out results that have seen us rise to sixth in the table and we currently sit above all the other local sides.

“Against Blackpool we put in another solid performance and deservedly came away with the three points in what was a windswept game against a resurgent side.

“Defensively we look solid and the introduction of (Michael) Morrison and (Robert) Grimes has added strength and experience to the squad, while Danny Riley brings that little bit of magic.

“With him and Craig Nicholls, we will always cause teams problems.

“The return to fitness and form of Andy Hill has definitely been a big factor in the last two weeks and the contribution of Josh McNulty cannot be ignored.”

Blackpool manager Stuart Parker was less happy about his team’s efforts.

He said: “It was a disappointing performance and disappointing result, especially after our recent displays.

“We never got going, we lacked desire and passion and we weren’t willing to do the hard graft to compete.

“Having a lad sent off didn’t help but no one took the initiative to reorganise the team once we were down to ten men.

“Had we netted the penalty, who knows what might have happened?”

The Cobbydalers have had a tendency to perform better against the top clubs and then let themselves down against teams in the bottom half of the league.

This season, however, the team has been more resilient. In the last few games, the back four have been very resolute, with Ben Lamb and Ryan forming a powerful partnership at the heart of the defence.

The Cobbydalers host mid-table Runcorn Town on Saturday, when they will be looking to avenge a 3-1 defeat in the corresponding away fixture just before Christmas.

In fact, Silsden have more than a score to settle as they have yet to gain a point against Town in seven games. This will be a good pointer to the progress being made.

SILSDEN: Rishton, Moses, Crabtree, Mitchell (Wademan), Ryan, Lamb, Hill, Morrison, Grimes (Nicholls), McNulty (Henderson), Riley. Subs not used: Brown, Moore.