Silsden 2, Clitheroe 6

A MUCH-changed Silsden side to the one that beat Colne 3-2 leaked six goals at home to Evo-Stick League outfit Clitheroe in their latest pre-season friendly.

Manager James Gill brought in Ryan Narey, Sam Jacob, Patrick Barylski and Leon Smith to help plug the gaps but the visitors looked sharp from the off.

Alex Newby latched on to a poor header from Narey to hit a sharp shot which Callum Jakovlevs saved at the near post.

Clitheroe took the lead on ten minutes when a square ball from Danny Forrest was intercepted. Michael Hampson broke down the right to cross to Kurt Willoughby, who drove home from a narrow angle.

Nicky McNally then pulled up with a hamstring tweak and was replaced. Silsden settled but their lack of experience told.

Forrest, searching for an outlet, was dispossessed on 23 minutes and Newby hit a rasping drive, with Jakovlevs diving to his left to finger-tip the ball for a corner. The ball was only half-cleared to former Cobbydalers player Andy Hill, whose shot was saved by the home keeper.

Clitheroe dominated but the Cobbydalers were resilient and looked to be heading to the break only one-goal down. Unfortunately, three minutes from the break, two efforts were blocked in the Silsden goal area before some deft footwork from Newby resulted in him sliding the ball home.

Two minutes into the second half it was 3-0 when Mo Chan broke down the left and crossed to Willoughby, who was unmarked and netted despite the desperate efforts of Jakovlevs.

It was soon four as Willoughby completed his hat-trick when nodding in Chan's free-kick.

Oliver Stirzaker made it 5-0 in the 63rd minute, hitting a superb drive from outside the penalty area after Brad Carroll had won the ball in midfield.

The Cobbydalers might have collapsed but they battled on and began to string some passes together. Matty Moses was pulling the strings in midfield, giving his manager another option in the future.

Silsden's first reply came from Smith, who stole the ball off two defenders and, as Chris Thompson advanced off his line, the striker slid the ball into the bottom corner.

Thompson, a former Cobbydalers keeper, has often denied Silsden in games against Barlick and Colne but he conceded a second goal following Silsden's best move of the game.

Moses slid a super ball out wide to Marshall, who crossed to the near post where Gareth Hill headed beyond the reach of the Clitheroe stopper.

Silsden now had their heads up but when Josh Kane failed to clear, some neat footwork by Dimitri Tuanzebe notched Clitheroe's final goal.

Gill insisted he was not too disappointed with the result and said: "We were without half a dozen players who are likely to be regular first-teamers.

"The lads who came in from the academy squad gave a good account of themselves and showed that, with time and coaching, they have what it takes to move up a level or two.

"Besides getting a team prepared for the first game of the season, we need to observe new players as well."

The Cobbydalers entertain Albion Sports on Friday night (7.45).