Silsden 6, West Didsbury & Chorlton 1

TOP scorer Craig Nicholls was back to his blistering best as Silsden blitzed West Didsbury & Chorlton 6-1 in the North West Counties League last night.

Nicholls followed a barren spell stretching back seven games with four goals as Matty Moses and Aaron Hollindrake completed the Premier Division romp, lifting their side back into the top ten.

The Cobbydalers had picked up just one point while scoring a single goal in three games on the road in seven days but got just what they needed after only three minutes against 17th-placed West Didsbury.

A long ball up to Hollindrake was flicked on over a square defence to Nicholls, whose electric pace took him into the penalty area where he drilled the ball wide of keeper Paul Hughes.

Four minutes later Nicholls doubled his tally with a copycat move. This time keeper Danny Thorpe drove the ball to Hollindrake and Nicholls finished with an unstoppable half-volley.

West Didsbury were rattled but played their way back into the game with some neat passing football. Scott Mason hit a shot over the bar before Matty Moore cleared a cross from Steven Settle to left back Alex Baird, who hit a dipping volley which Thorpe tipped over. A minute late the visitors were awarded a penalty for Moore's handball and Mason drove it home.

The game swung from end to end and Moses managed to block a shot from Nico Evangelinos before Ben Lamb broke out of defence and laid the ball to Nicholls on the left. He outpaced Settle and crossed into the box to Moses, who had run 60 yards and drilled it into the net to make it 3-1.

Daniel Russell broke free at the other end and should have done better than to give Thorpe a chance but the Silsden keeper saved comfortably. Evangelinos broke up the right and hit a low shot, which Thorpe again saved – and the visitors were punished for not taking their chances when Joe Mitchell sent Nicholls away down the right and he duly completed his hat-trick by sliding the ball home from a narrow angle.

West had not given up and Russell saw a shot deflected off a team-mate for a goal kick. Settle then tested Thorpe with a shot from outside the area. Thorpe failed to gather at the first attempt but dived at the feet of Evangelinos.

Silsden gradually got on top in midfield, where the tenacious Mitchell and experienced Ryan began to take control.

Nicholls volleyed wide after the visitors' defence had failed to clear Mitchell's corner and then the Silsden marksman overran another chance, losing possession to Hughes.

Nicholls was not to be denied and notched his fourth goal after an hour, cutting across the goal area and curling the ball home with his left foot.

Tom Sowerbutts replaced Joe Jalil and immediately his pace set up a chance for Mitchell, whose shot cleared the crossbar.

Dale Feather failed to control the ball in the box and Hughes was able to gather it. The midfielder impeded the keeper, seeing himself needlessly cautioned. Feather was replaced by Will Storrie, who had been injured early in the season.

Hollindrake then cut inside the shell-shocked Rasmus Varvik to add a sixth Silsden goal – and then just missed the far post after Nicholls had opened up the defence.

Ben Crabtree, who had been expected to be injured for the rest of the season, came on for Lamb.

It was a fantastic result for the Cobbydalers, giving them confidence as they enter the final run-in.

Crabtree gives the team a better balance and certainly Sowerbutts and Storrie gave the managers something to ponder with their pace. Both in attack and in chasing back, Silsden were still open on the left where Moses was often up against two men.

Silsden are at home again to leaders Glossop North End tomorrow night (8.00) and then host Bootle on Saturday, before travelling to relegation-threatened St Helens Town next Tuesday.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Moore, Moses, Mitchell, Brown, Lamb (Crabtree 80), Feather (Storrie 71), Ryan, Hollindrake, Jalil (Sowerbutts 60), Nicholls. Sub (not used): Smith.