Silsden 0 Atherton Collieries 3

THE COBBYDALERS were unable to bring some Christmas cheer to the Angel Telecom Stadium in their first home game since the county cup win over Guiseley on November 3.

They had only played three matches on the road since then, one of them being a 7-2 hiding at high-flying Atherton.

Hopes of gaining revenge on a heavy but playable pitch were hit as early as the fourth minute in front of a crowd including a dozen former players.

Oliver Hunter failed to head a long ball to safety and Mark Battersby slipped behind the defender and slid the ball home. A move involving Kevin Ryan and Charlie Collinge saw Chris Wademan shoot narrowly wide but the visitors were comfortably in charge.

Jack Brooks sliced an effort wide after Wademan laid the ball back to him but, with Wayne Morrison unable to break free from the shackles of Matt Grimshaw, there was a lack of options from the Cobbydalers. Atherton looked more dangerous as Thorpe saved well from Kristian Holt after the winger had cut across Ryan. Ben Hardcastle then cut inside Elliot Scott only to shoot wide.

Silsden's best effort came on 40 minutes when Wademan dribbled into the Collieries packed penalty area but Grimshaw blocked his snap shot.

At the other end, Hunter saved the day when he headed clear after Danny Thorpe had been deceived by Hardcastle's deflected cross.

At the beginning of the second half Wademan made another good run and, when Scott cut the ball across from the left, the pace was taken off Morrison's shot by Gareth Peet.

The Collieries doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Peet evaded four attempts to halt his progress before setting up Battersby. The forward saw his shot superbly saved by Thorpe but Peet followed up to slide home the rebound.

Both sides then brought on substitutes in a spell where the game lacked any pattern. Thorpe was called into action 15 minutes from time, denying James Kirby at the second attempt.

Silsden went as close as they had in the whole game when Morrison flicked a Ryan pass into the path of substitute Tom Henderson, who saw his effort go inches past the far post. Morrison then drove a free-kick high over the visitors' bar before Thorpe made another outstanding save.

The visitors put the icing on the Christmas cake when Battersby broke clear to make it 3-0.

The Cobbydalers travel to AFC Blackpool on Tuesday in the Men United League Cup.

They then visit neighbours Barnoldswick on Boxing Day when they hope to provide some festive cheer against the season's surprise package.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Garside (Hartley 57), Scott, Mitchell, Firth, Ryan, Brooks (McCrum 70), Collinge(Henderson 63), Morrison, Wademan, Hunter.