FA Vase First Qualifying Round: Chester-le-Street Town 2 Silsden 3

THE COBBYDALERS made it eight out of eight wins this season thanks to a stunning strike from Kyle Hancock.

They booked their place in the next round but it was not without a fright after they had to come from behind with 15 minutes left.

Silsden will now travel back to the north-east on September 23 to face West Auckland Town who, at present, sit second in the top tier of the Northern League.

Last Saturday's opponents, the Cestrians, had only gained six points from six games in Division Two but an away cup tie against any Northern League team is no easy task.

You have to go back to 2007-08 for a Vase final which didn’t involve a team from that competition.

Silsden were without Joe Gaughan (who was taking part in the Great North Run), and the injured Dan Illingworth and Niall Sultan but Aaron Davis was back in the squad.

Both sides had attacks in the first five minutes which were thwarted before Nicky McNally, receiving the ball from Chris Wademan, turned back from the edge of the penalty before hitting a screamer which rattled the Cestrians’ bar.

Two minutes later David Surrey hit a low shot at the other end which Callum Jakovlevs could only parry. Lee Mole responded quickest, his shot entered the net but he was flagged offside.

The Cobbydalers were pushed into making errors before Mole forced Jacovlevs into conceding a corner. The ball was swung in and Alex Walker got in front of Luke Rhodes to give the Durham boys the lead. Immediately Arron Thomson shot wide as the Chester-le-Street kept the pressure on. Josh Kaine was dispossessed but Arley Barnes cleared up.

At the other end McNally curled a shot agonisingly wide and then saw another effort deflected off Josh King for a corner. The ball was partially cleared and Trueman threaded it to Hancock on the right, who curled a low shot from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner for the equaliser on 33 minutes.

A minute later right back Chris Stephenson, shielding the ball from Wademan, edged the Silsden man into the perimeter stanchion. A face-off ensued as Stephenson raised his hands to Wademan’s neck and saw red, while the Cobbydaler received a caution. Chester-le-Street, having been the better side for the first 35 minutes, lost some control.

Kaine had a shot tipped over the bar before Barnes’ shot grazed the post. A superb save from Stephenson denied McNally giving Silsden the lead.

The Cestrians sat back in the early stages of the second half. Both Hancock and Mateusz Tomasz had shots blocked before the home side broke clear. Brid Thomson had broken into the Silsden penalty area before setting up Mole who shot over as a golden chance went begging!

On 60 minutes Matty Moses crossed from the right. Rhodes’ header beat the home keeper but rebounded off the far post. Despite their domination, Silsden couldn’t net a second and the Durham lads took an unexpected lead when Mole headed home a sumptuous cross from the left.

A minute later the scores were level. Wademan was brought down in the penalty area and, though Mark Trueman's spot kick was saved, he followed up to make it 2-2.

After Wilson had saved from Tomasz, Silsden finally went in front with an outstanding goal from Hancock.

Rhodes had punched a corner to the edge of the penalty area. Hancock cushioned the ball on his right knee, flicked it up and then volleyed it beyond the reach of Wilson. It was a 'worldy!'

In the final minutes Mark Everingham headed wide and, well into stoppage time, Walker volleyed over the Silsden bar.

The final whistle went, leaving Silsden delighted as they continued their 100 per cent start to the season after what had been a thriller.

Silsden entertain Cheadle Town at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium on Saturday.

SILSDEN: Jacovlevs, Moses, Everingham, Kaine, Rhodes (Eastwood 77), Trueman, Barnes, Hancock, McNally (Holt 66), Wademan, Tomasz (Davis 77).