Two see red as Silsden lose in nine-goal thriller (From Craven Herald)

Two see red as Silsden lose in nine-goal thriller

8:05pm Thursday 26th April 2012 in Football

Winsford United 5 Silsden 4

Silsden lost their final away match of the season to a last-minute winner in a nine-goal spectacular which saw them finish with only nine men.

The Cobbydalers were without key players James Mann, James Nettleton and Andy Lee but went ahead after four minutes when John Douglas set up Joe Gaughan, whose first effort was charged down but he rifled in the second.

Winsford's equalised after 25 minutes as a result of an underhit pass back from Douglas, Ward blasting home. Within a minute, Silsden almost regained the lead when Danny Husband headed over the bar.

However, it didn't matter as the same player made no mistake with his second header from a corner after 37 minutes.

Back came the Blues when Lee Jones sped up the right and crossed low to the far post where Daley Woods volleyed home.

Yet the Cobbydalers went in 3-2 up at the break when the impressive Danny McNulty scored with a superb curling effort.

The see-saw nature of the game continued in the second half when Bailey levelled the scores after 52 minutes, swivelling on a through ball to home at the far post.

The spat that between Douglas and Adam Foy finally boiled over after 56 minutes. Douglas, who had been spoken to by the official several times in the first half, was booked, along with Foy.

Douglas seemed more interested in his personal duel and two minutes later he was shown a second yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Foy.

Silsden’s deputy goalkeeper Christ- ian Paulat-Brigg tipped a Jamie Henders’ effort over the bar and then denied the same player, pushing a shot wide.

But the hosts finally took the lead on 72 minutes when Ward cut in from the right, drifting past two defenders before hitting a left-footer wide of the Silsden keeper.

A superb tackle from Ben Lamb denied the Blues a fifth before Silsden made it 4-4 when a high ball caused panic in the home defence and Woods was adjudged to have handled the ball. Gaughan dispatched the penalty in the penultimate minute.

However, just when Silsden thought they had earned a point, Bailey's low cross to the far post was not cleared and Warburton notched the winner.

To rub salt into the wound, Gaughan's petulant protests resulted in a red card as Silsden were reduced to nine men.