Silsden 2 Sunderland RCA 4

THE Cobbydalers bowed out of the FA Vase first-round proper at home to Sunderland Ryhope Community Association on Halloween.

Despite the home advantage, this was always going to be a tough tie for Silsden as Sunderland arrived on the back of a 12-game unbeaten run. Only three teams in the top tier of the Northern League had scored more goals.

Silsden still had several players on the injury list and skipper Joe Mitchell pulled up in the warm-up to be replaced by Talent Ndlovu. Ryan Haigh and his staff have built up a team which has looked more competitive in the last fortnight but other changes had to be made.

Goalkeeper Joe Taylor was unavailable in goal but fortunately Danny Thorpe had made a quicker recovery than expected following surgery to his leg.

The Cobbydalers were on the attack from the kick-off as Jordan Harkness came off his line to smother Chris Wademan's low shot. That was a wake-up call for the visitors as Joe Melvin shot over after a run across the box.

Andy Lee saw his effort tipped over after good interplay down the left, while Melvin went close twice.

Luke Proctor found himself in the clear when the visitors sprung the offside trap but Thorpe made an excellent save. He could do little with Proctor's next effort except breathe a sigh of relief when the ball curled outside the far post.

Wademan latched onto a through ball from Kevin Ryan but his effort was blocked by a last-ditch tackle by Wayne Buchanan.

Silsden took the lead on 53 minutes when Wademan exploited a lack of concentration in the Durham team's defence. He shot wide of Harkness, who managed to take some of the pace off the ball, but the ball squirmed across the line despite the efforts of Adam Drysdale.

Fred Midgley, who had worked hard but found the physical presence of centre backs Drysdale and Reece Noble a stumbling block, was replaced by Nicky McNally ten minutes into the half. McNally's first effort was underhit and the ball was driven forwards by Harkness up the right.

A superb cross eluded all the Silsden defenders and Proctor squeezed in the equaliser at the far post.

After Melvin missed another chance he was replaced by Colin Larkin. It was a significant substitution. Larkin, the forwards' coach, who had played in the Football League for Wolves, Chesterfield, Northampton and Hartlepool, began to dictate the play.

An eight-man move saw Proctor net his second and four minutes later Larkin netted a third following a cross from the right.

Ndlovu gave Silsden hope with two minutes left when his powerful volley squirmed through Harness' grasp to make it 3-2.

Silsden threw everyone forward for a stoppage-time corner but the ball was cleared and Larkin kept his composure to settle the issue two minutes into overtime.

It had been a compelling cup tie but the visitors just about deserved their victory. Silsden never gave up and there is more resilience in the team than earlier in the season.

Sunderland were impressed with their hosts both on and off the pitch, as illustrated by an email to the Cobbydalers from their first-team secretary Rob Jones.

It read: "While the result went our way on the day it was the little things off the pitch that made the day special to us and our supporters. As one said on the coach going home: 'It was a pity to win against such nice people.'

"Hopefully the rest of the season will see a change in fortune and if the team perform like they did on Saturday against us then you should have no problem moving up the league."

Silsden fans could be in for another treat on Tuesday night when Guiseley are the visitors for a West Riding County Cup game.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Nettelton, Lee(Scott 84), Ndlovu, Firth, Ryan, Hunter, Collinge, Midgley(McNally 54), Wademan, Nicholls(Mitchell 66). Subs not used Garside, Brooks.