West Riding County Cup: Silsden 3 FC Halifax Town 1

THE COBBYDALERS came from a goal down at half-time to beat a youthful Halifax side and book a quarter-final spot in the County Cup.

Silsden will visit the winner of tomorrow night's clash between Tadcaster Albion and Yorkshire Amateur early in the new year, when they will bid to reach the last four for the second successive season.

Having played the night before in an FA Trophy replay, Town’s team was made up of players from their under-19s and under-21s.

Silsden have several players in the same age bracket, although they were without the influential Connor Erangey and Leon Smith, who were injured.

Halifax’s pace and swift passing soon led to the opening goal, Ousman Cham netting on 11 minutes after Liam Healey had reached the by-line.

Silsden were forced to defend for much of the half with their forwards isolated and feeding off the odd long ball, although Will Storrie went close with a dipping shot.

Midway through the half

The Shaymen almost went 2-0 up when Isaac Baldwin burst down the left and fizzed a cross into the Silsden area, Elliott Harrison being inches away from notching a second goal.

The second half was a total contrast, with the Cobbydalers soon in the ascendancy. Five minutes into the half Nicky McNally cut in from the left before Will Storrie netted.

McNally got through a minute later but keeper Kyle Trenerry managed to save with his feet.

Silsden were rampant, with Danny Riley having a shot blocked before Kyle Hancock put the Cobbydalers ahead on 60 minutes with a dipping free-kick from 25 yards.

Three minutes later a superb ball from Matty Moses to Storrie opened up the Shaymen’s defence and Isaac Baldwin inadvertently turned Storrie's cross into his own net.

Ross Wilson replaced McNally on his return from injury. Immediately, he had a golden chance but rustiness meant the opportunity went begging.

Silsden ran down the clock as the Shaymen became frustrated.

Confidence is growing among the camp, with boss Danny Forrest admitting their second-half revival was purely down to the players rather than the management.

“We said nothing," he explained. "Some of the lads were frustrated about the first-half performance and they sorted things out themselves. All the hard work had been done on the training ground."

SILSDEN: Jakovlevs, Foulds (Narey 89), Moses, Kaine, Jacomb, Cox (Busfield 79), Storrie, Eastwood, McNally (Wilson 67), Hancock, Riley.