Silsden pay for their missed chances (From Craven Herald)

Silsden pay for their missed chances

9:59am Thursday 29th December 2011 in Football

Silsden 0 Colne 2

Silsden paid the price for not taking their chances as they suffered a Boxing Day home defeat.

They dominated the first half but a combination of the woodwork, poor finishing, desperate defending and some fine saves from former Silsden keeper, Chris Thompson, prevented them from going ahead.

In contrast Colne capitalised on two second-half chances to seal the points.

After a period of heavy rain, the Cobbydalers had worked tirelessly on Monday morning to make sure the game went ahead.

The pitch cut up as the game progressed, but there was plenty of action for the fans to enjoy.

With Jake McEneaney recovering from injury, manager Chris Reape named an unchanged team.

Silsden dominated the opening half. Andy Lee had the Cobbydalers first effort, a shot across the face of goal, which was cleared by Daniel Greave.

Joe Gaughan then headed Lee’s cross against the far post, with Thompson beaten.

Thompson and Neil Harries combined to deny Danny Bryan from the follow up.

A minute later McEneaney threaded the ball through to Gaughan but Thompson saved his shot well.

The keeper was fortunate when his clearance held up on the wind and John Douglas, seeing the keeper on the edge of his area, volleyed goalwards.

Thompson managed to scramble back to just gather the ball at full stretch.

Gaughan was then put through by Bryan, but his shot, though powerful, was wide of the target.

At the other end, James Mann saved Mark Threlfall’s low drive and Greave rifled a low shot across the face of the Silsden goal.

Just before the interval Gaughan, who could have had a first-half hat-trick, headed inches wide from Danny Husband’s cross.

Colne were soon on the attack in the second half. Threlfall cut in from the left to hit a powerful shot, which Arley Barnes blocked.

Silsden did have another good opportunity from a Lee corner. Gaughan, running in, headed over with Husband behind him, just about to nod home.

Ben Lamb conceded an unnecessary corner, which was driven into the Silsden box. Lamb and Husband both blocked shots but no-one could stop Mark Coyne from netting with a shot from close range.

Greave was wide with a header, two more shots were blocked and Mann saved with his feet as Craig burst past Lamb on the turn.

Craig was turning the screw with some deft footwork but he was denied, firstly by Husband and then by McEneaney.

The game became a battle in midfield with Tim Hird in the thick of things but the Cobbydalers couldn’t create another chance.

Colne settled the issue four minutes from time. Dominic Craig crossed from the right for Threlfall to head powerfully past Mann to secure all three points.

It could have been oh so different, had the Cobbydalers taken even half their chances.

The Cobbydalers visit Padiham on Monday, kick off 3pm.