Silsden 1 St Helens Town 4

SILSDEN'S habit of conceding early goals continues to dog them as Danny Forrest's first home league game in charge ended in defeat.

For the seventh successive league fixture, the Cobbydalers gave themselves a mountain to climb.

The goals conceded in those games were in the fourth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth (twice) and 24th minutes.

Even in Silsden's 6-1 win in the County Cup over Armthorpe Welfare, they conceded the opener in the seventh minute. Only once in the last nine games have they taken the lead – Leon Smith's sixth-minute opener at New Mills, which was cancelled out three minutes later.

The visit of St Helens looked to be a chance to kick their habit against a side who were just a point ahead of them in the table having played two more games.

However, after Nicky McNally had struck the post in the opening minute, the Cobbydalers went behind on four minutes when Andrew Gillespie burst past debutant Harvey Neale to beat Callum Jakovlevs at his near post. Neale was in for skipper Josh Kaine, who was unavailable.

As they have done in recent games, the Cobbydalers went on to create numerous chances. Danny Riley should have done better with a near-post header and Smith, latching on to Josh Eastwood’s through ball, was denied by a fine save from Tony Whelan.

The visitors might have doubled their lead on ten minutes when Neale was beaten again. Josh McNulty blocked the shot before a powerful run from Ross Wilson was halted at the expense of a corner.

Connor Erangey shot wide before Gillespie notched his second on 18 minutes when his shot was deflected wide of Jakovlevs.

Midway through the half Smith beat two men before shooting over. Then he fired a low cross into the area but neither Riley nor McNally could convert an excellent chance.

Erangey shot from outside the box and brought a diving save from Whelan before Smith again got to the byline. McNally trapped the cross but was crowded out before Riley swivelled to pull a goal back from close range.

The Cobbydalers were in the ascendency as Eastwood and McNally had shots deflected for a corner.

But St Helens added a third in first-half stoppage time when McNulty conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area and Dale Korie-Butler blasted his shot into the roof of the net.

The goal stung the Cobbydalers. Jakovlevs saved from Paul Carney and McNulty’s desperate tackle prevented a fourth goal.

But the victory was sealed when Andrew Presho increased Town's lead after 65 minutes.

Michael Garnett and Tom Henderson replaced McNally and Smith but to little effect. Matty Moses and McNulty broke down the wings but no-one covered for them and the visitors were able to exploit the spaces they occupied.

Eastwood was unlucky not to notch a consolation but Will Threlkeld almost made it five, his effort going wide of the far post in the dying minutes.

Boss Forrest accepted that the loss of Kaine was a problem but he has brought in a coach to work with the defence.

Throughout the game, full backs Moses and McNulty broke forwards but there was no-one covering the gaps they left. Similarly the midfielders were more intent on pushing up.

St Helens solved their defensive problems by making sure they got eight men back behind the ball whenever they could and then breaking away.

Only one clean sheet so far this season sums up where Silsden must improve.

Silsden are due to visit Daisy Hill tonight in the league, though their hosts' game at home to Oswestry was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on Saturday.

SILSDEN: Jacovlevs, Moses, McNulty, Neale, Jacomb, Erangey, Riley, Eastwood, Smith (Henderson 74), McNally (Garnett 74), Wilson (Storrie 60).