Sandbach United 2 Silsden 0

THE COBBYDALERS travelled to Cheshire for a game against another team recently promoted to the North West Counties League – and yet again succumbed to a team on the up.

Six of the eight newly-promoted teams, along with relegated Alsager Town and Widnes, occupied the top eight places in Division One at the weekend, Sandbach occupying sixth spot after this win.

As yet the Cobbydalers have only beaten Carlisle and drawn with Oswestry Town in their games against the new boys.

Silsden, who had to adjust their backline with last week’s debutant Lewis Morgan absent, Silsden were denied an opener after just 30 seconds. Chris Wademan cut though the home defence and Sandbach's keeper made an excellent save.

Three minutes later the hosts took the lead through Josh Lane after he stole the ball off Josh McNulty.

The home side then took control. Ryan Moss headed a chance from a corner over before a combination of Callum Jakovlevs and Josh Kaine denied Danny Bartle. Oumar Mballo, after a deft turn, then shot over the bar.

It was 20 minutes in before Silsden recovered from their early setback. McNulty burst up the left but his low cross was cleared before Tom Coulson weaved his way past two players but was closed down by Nathan Jones at the heart of United’s defence.

Jakovlevs saved a low shot from Carlos Correia and Mballo should have doubled United’s lead on the restart. He left three defenders in his wake but instead of pulling the trigger he passed to Correia, whose shot was blocked.

Danny Forrest and James Gill were booked for dissent, partly a result of the team’s inability to keep the ball, but the better side of Forrest was seen when he hit a powerful header wide from Zack Hargreaves’ corner.

Moss made another fine save and Forrest had two headers cleared from the goal area but there was little threat coming from elsewhere for the Yorkshiremen.

Nicky McNally, who replaced the out of sorts Leon Smith, hit a cracking volley inches wide from the right following Forrest’s cross-field ball.

At the other end, Jacovlevs denied the Cheshire outfit a second with a diving save off a ball from Correia.

It was only in the dying minutes that Silsden really put the back four under pressure. Forrest found McNally in the penalty area but Moss sped off his line to dive at the striker’s feet.

Jacovlevs hit a long ball to Henderson who broke up the right and put a good ball into a crowded area but it wasn’t Silsden’s day. The Cobbydalers had pushed all but Jakovlevs and Eastwood forwards and were caught out when a high clearance found Lane on the edge of the penalty area. He had time to pull it down and volley home Sandbach's second on 90 minutes.

After the game the Silsden players and managerial staff apologised for their poor performance.

On Saturday the Cobbydalers entertain Oswestry Town, who they drew 6-6 with earlier this season, before a long trip to Carlisle City next Tuesday.

SILSDEN: Jakovlevs, Eastwood, McNulty (Gill J 85), Kaine, Hargreaves, Moses, Forrest, Coulson (Henderson 71), Smith (McNally 60), Wademan, Hancock.