Silsden 0 1874 Northwich 2

MISSED chances cost the Cobbydalers as in-form 1874 Northwich claimed the spoils in front of a 300-plus crowd swelled by a large visiting contingent and those who had attended the club's ceremony of remembrance and celebration earlier in the day.

In a tribute to those who served in World War One, the hosts wore the blue and white colours of 100 years ago in which Silsden had won the Keighley & District Charity Cup.

Players from that team had worn the same colours in an inter-regimental competition behind the front lines of the Western Front in 1914.

And just as the Keighley Charity Cup winners had done a century earlier, the sides came out to Handel's “See the conquering hero comes”.

Formed by fans of Northwich Victoria disillusioned by their club's off-the-field financial problems, 1874 Northwich joined the North West Counties League in 2013 and were promoted at the end of their first season.

They arrived at the Angel Telecom Stadium on a 14-match unbeaten run.

The Cobbydalers were without James Nettleton, so Kevin Ryan moved into the back four, while recent signing Aaron Hollindrake, making a welcome return to Silsden, led the attack.

Hollindrake had an early shot blocked before keeper Matthew Conkie deflected Craig Nicholls' follow-up for a corner.

The visitors began to settle with some patient possession in midfield as Jamie Tandy's first-time effort went wide.

Midway through the half, the impish Nicholls broke down the right past a square defence. He drew the Northwich keeper but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

A good run from Joe Mitchell saw him get in a low shot but McGrath blocked the effort.

Silsden's defensive shape looked good but the visitors took the lead when Tandy drove in a cross. Ryan and Michael Brandon went up for the ball but Danny Thorpe came off his line to punch clear. The ball ricocheted off Brandon into the air and Matthew Ward hit an acrobatic volley to give the visitors the lead after 32 minutes

Silsden responded as the irrepressible Nicholls had a shot saved in a one-on-one with Conkie before Nicholls sent Dale down the right but he shot wide after the keeper had narrowed the angle.

The telepathy between Dale and Nicholls was evident again in the second half. A chip from the former beat the defence but Nicholls, who had kept running, volleyed wide.

Thorpe was injured in a collision with Ward at the edge of the box but recovered after treatment. On another break, Ward wasted a good chance to double Northwich's lead.

With 11 minutes left, Silsden pushed too many forwards for a corner. The ball was cleared and the visitors broke away, Matthew Beadle settling the issue by beating Thorpe with a low shot.

There was still time for the Cobbydalers to create another chance. Man of the match Mitchell won yet another ball in midfield and hit the ball to Nicholls, who was denied by Duckworth's block following a one-two with Dale.

Kevin McGrath was sent off in dying minutes for s second bookable offence but the visitors took the spoils and marched on. On another day, the Cobbydalers might have scored three or four but it wasn't their day.

Boss Andy Geary said: “It was a disappointing result considering how well we played. It was just a matter of finishing.

"We certainly played some cracking football and created numerous chances. I was delighted with the performance, if not the final score.”

A defeat, but with honour, on what was a special day for the Cobbydalers as a club, not just as a team. The lads of 1914 would have been proud of them.

Alsager Town are the visitors to the Angel Telecom Stadium on Saturday.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Deakin-Pickard, Crabtree (Brereton 87), Ryan, Fagan(Brown 45), Feather, Jalil, Mitchell, Hollindrake(Hill 63) Dale, Nicholls. Subs not used: Wademan, Henderson.