9:40am Thursday 26th August 2010
Silsden put the disappointment of their FA Cup defeat behind them as they defeated a Maine Road side that had won its first two games.
The decisive goal came from top scorer Sam Heap who slotted home a first-half penalty.
The young Silsden side then had to show great character to mop up a lot of late pressure to secure the three points.
The foundations for the victory were provided goalkeeper Chris Thompson and a defence in which centre backs Peter Hanson and Ben Lamb were dominant while full backs Rob Barraclough and Arley Barnes were outstanding both in their tackling and distribution.
Maine Road were soon into their stride. Matt Struminskij hit one shot on target and one wide and Declan O’Shea headed over the bar in the opening exchanges.
Lee Reilly had a great chance for Silsden when a lucky deflection gave him a shooting opportunity, but his effort was straight at Andrew Jones in the Maine Road goal.
Reilly also had a shot deflected for a corner after good work from Arley Barnes and Heap.
Lee Thompson then drove forwards from midfield to test Jones before Thompson made an excellent save from James Rothel.
Silsden were coming to terms with the pace of the game and the best move of the game saw Barnes’s cross headed back by Reilly to Heap whose shot was saved by the keeper’s legs.
Heap nearly opened Silsden’s account when he lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper’s outstretched arms in the 30th minute. The ball rebounded off the far post.
It wasn’t long before Heap gave the Cobbydalers the lead. Chasing a ball in the area, the striker was upended by Richard Gresty. Heap coolly slid the penalty wide of the keeper.
Maine Road’s response was swift. A cross from the right was chested down by Josh Inyang, into the path of Liam Beckford, who hit a powerful volley.
Thompson’s save brought gasps from the home supporters. Reilly nearly made it two for Silsden but was denied by a combination of Eddie Moran and Jones.
It had been a compelling half and the pace was maintained throughout the second period.
Thompson brought another superb save from Jones and O’Shea shot wide at the other end. Hanson denied Chris Hirst and then Moran blasted over.
Silsden were constantly stretched in midfield where Tim Hird and Darren Fletcher were outnumbered but the back four held firm.
Similarly, the Maine Road midfield lacked defensive cover and both Heap, with a shot on the turn, and Barnes, with a low drive, tested the home defence.
Reilly went close again. Having skipped past his defender, he curled his shot marginally wide.
As the game entered the final quarter, Silsden were pushed further and further back.
Maine Road should have equal-ised when Rothel was clear but he slipped, with the goal at his mercy.
Chris Hirst then hit the bar with a header from a corner. Caretaker manager, Mick Tillotson, replaced his strikers, Reilly, Heap and David Gray, with Jamie Longley, Jordan Barker and Andy Doogan.
Longley was used to hold the ball up front and Barker and Doogan to tighten the midfield.
It was touch and go whether the Silsden defence would hold out.
Keeper Thompson made another critical save from Struminskij and Doogan headed Rothel’s dangerous cross clear and Silsden just managed to hang on.
If this brand of football is seen in Silsden, their fans will be in for a treat.
The Cobbydalers next game is at home to Tow Law in the FA Vase on September 4.
Maine Road: Jones, Moran, Rothel, Jay, Gresty, Struminskij, Beckford (Gittings), Brocklehurst, Inyang (Holden), O’Shea, Hirst. Subs dnp Ford, Walker, Grice
Silsden: C. Thompson, Barnes, Barraclough, Fletcher, Lamb, P Hanson, Reilly (J Barker), L Thompson, Heap (Longley), Gray (Doogan), Hird.
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