Silsden 2 Abbey Hey 2

SILSDEN'S fighting spirit saw them salvage a point thanks to two goals in the last four minutes.

It looked like the Cobbydalers would pay for not making the most of their first-half dominance when Justin Pickering made it 2-0 to the visitors in the 85th minute.

But late goals from Will Storrie and Joe Mitchell ensured Silsden did not end empty-handed.

Following last week's thrilling draw at Runcorn Town, Cobbydalers manager James Gill would have liked to have kept the same personnel but the absences of James Nettleton and Matty Kershaw, at the back, and Josh McNulty forced his hand.

Midfielder Josh Kaine dropped back, as did Kevin Ryan, who had been leading the attack. New boy Roberto Bonaminio made his debut in midfield.

The changes seemed to matter little as the Cobbydalers tore into their opponents in an opening spell in which they could easily have notched three or four goals.

From the kick-off, Kyle Hancock picked out Chris Wademan with a pin-point pass and Wademan was in the clear but Abbey keeper Ross Heywood deflected the ball with his feet for a corner.

Ryan flicked the corner into the path of Bonaminio but the debutant's effort went inches over the bar. On four minutes Wademan again broke clear down the right before striking the bar from a narrow angle.

Mitchell curled a shot past the far post before Heywood tipped Bonaminio's volley over the bar. Five chances in the opening eight minutes!

A Mitchell free-kick was headed clear by Curtis Jones before another effort from Bonaminio cleared the bar.

With half an hour played, the visitors finally put some passes together. George Noon wasted a good chance, shooting over, while Nico Collins, under pressure from Ryan, fell over the ball. However, he recovered and squeezed the ball through Ryan's legs but was unable to keep his shot down.

With two minutes of the half left, Pickering curled a free-kick wide and then Collins hit a low drive across the face of the Silsden goal.

The game had swung Abbey's way and they took the lead ten minutes into the second half when Andrew Smith rose to head home a corner.

Dale Feather came on for Ollie Hunter to try to put some bite into the midfield but Abbey were still in control. Ed Hall did well to save Pickering's free-kick at his near post before Feather dragged Hancock's corner wide of the far post.

Hardy shot over the bar, then Hall pushed another shot from Pickering for a corner.

With five minutes left, Jack Brooks, on for Collinge, failed to get enough on his clearance and Pickering hit a low drive from 25 yards into the bottom corner of the Silsden net.

It looked all over but Ryan moved up front and Storrie latched on to a through-ball from Hancock to halve the deficit.

A minute from time, Storrie chased the ball down to the by-line on the right. His low cross was handled by Smith and skipper Mitchell blasted the spot-kick home.

Failing to drive home their early advantage might have cost the Cobbydalers all three points but Gill was upbeat.

He said: “We weren't at full strength and eighth in the table Abbey provided us with a stern test. We could have killed the game off early but at least we responded well when the chips were down. The lads never gave up.

"Let's hope we get a little bit more luck in the next three home games.”

Tomorrow, the Cobbydalers entertain Bootle.

SILSDEN: Hall, Moses (Storrie 76), Cattermole, Kaine, Ryan, Mitchell Collinge (Brooks 61), Bonaminio, Hancock, Wademan, Hunter (Feather 55).