FA Vase second qualifying round: West Auckland Town 3 Silsden 0

SILSDEN were unable to make it ten successive victories as they bowed out of the FA Vase.

They were hindered by the dismissal of Mark Trueman just before half-time but still produced an impressive display and were thwarted several times by Town keeper Adam McHugh.

It was always going to be a tough task against a West Auckland team that had appeared in the FA Vase Final twice in the last five years. West were fourth in the top division of the Northern League at present and the division’s highest scorers, netting 39 goals in 12 league games, striker Nathan Fisher having scored 18.

The game was one of contrasting styles, with the home side relying more on the long ball, to Fisher in particular, and the Cobbydalers keen to build from the back.

Silsden boss Danny Forrest, who was without Dan Illingworth and Kyle Hancock, dropped Arley Barnes into the back four and 17-year-old Luke Rhodes came into the midfield.

From the kick-off it was clear that this would be an entertaining game, with Aaron Wearmouth shooting wide after two minutes and Joe Gaughan going close a minute later.

Trueman was prominent in midfield and he set up Chris Wademan, whose cross was flicked goalwards by Niall Sultan but McHugh turned it away for a corner.

Midway through the half, Town’s talisman Fisher was injured and replaced by Ben Wood. But the hosts took the lead after 41 minutes with a superb free-kick from Adam Mitchell.

Two minutes later Trueman was dismissed. There had been some meaty challenges and a spate of shirt-pulling before Trueman and Wearmouth collided. Trueman, a foot shorter than Wearmouth, raised his head trying to break free after his shirt had been grabbed by the Town player.

The Durham man collapsed holding his head. Eventually, after a melee, Trueman was shown the red card as Wearmouth got up without needing treatment.

Silsden's task was made even harder ten minutes into the second half, Amar Purewak made it 2-0 heading home from close range.

The visitors could have capitulated but they didn’t and were only denied a goal by McHugh, who saved a header from Rhodes before tipping a fierce shot from Arley Barnes past his post.

The keeper then saved a low shot from Sultan before thwarting Gaughan on three occasions. Firstly Josh Eastwood, on for Mateusz Tomas, found Gaughan on the edge of the area. The striker weaved his way between two defenders before McHugh tipped his shot over the bar.

His next effort was parried and gathered at the second attempt. Even when Gaughan’s shirt was being pulled, he managed to hit a rasping shot goal-bound, bringing another superb save from McHugh.

When Sultan drove in a corner, three Silsden players failed to connect with the ball. West broke away and Wood made it three.

Even then Silsden still attacked, but Nicky McNally shot wide after an error by Ross Colquhoun.

The final score suggested an easy win but that was far from the truth. Silsden are unlikely to face another keeper in such fine form and should fear no-one this season if they can perform like this. They received lots of plaudits from the Auckland fans.

On Saturday it's back to league business with an away game at Stockport Sports, followed by a home game the following Tuesday against AFC Blackpool.

SILSDEN: Jakovlevs, Moses, Everingham, Kaine, Rhodes (Forrest 84), Trueman, Barnes, Tomas (Eastwood 60), Sultan, Gaughan, Wademan (McNally 68).