West Riding County Women's League Cup preliminary round: Brighouse Town Development 2 Silsden AFC 3

SILSDEN Dragons booked themselves a first-round tie at home to West Leeds on Sunday, September 4 after a flurry of late goals at the Dual Seal Stadium.

The hosts were young and committed, and the uneven bounce caused problems for both sides early on.

Town took the lead following some head tennis, with the visitors appealing in vain for offside, but Silsden remained calm, working the ball through the midfield trio of Sophie Gaines, Harriet Persson Brewer and Victoria Oxley.

Izzy Di Franco was unlucky not to level on a couple of occasions after latching onto superb through balls from Gaines, who hit a peach of a shot which was tipped around a post by the diving keeper.

However, Silsden pressure was rewarded just before the half-hour when Brewer worked a short-corner routine with Jess Buck to send an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Becks Brown, who crashed home an equaliser.

Brown was unlucky with an even better effort moments later, the impressive Town keeper saving her bullet header, but there were also chances at the other end.

Charlotte Hutchinson, playing in an unfamiliar role at the heart of defence, remained resolute, though, to block out any danger, ably assisted by Brown, Christina Aston and Naomi Di Franco.

Lauren Adams, working tirelessly up and downfield, was showing some great first-time touches on the right flank, while Laura Thurling produced some excellent saves and assured ball-handling to keep the score at 1-1.

It looked like extra-time was on the cards but Silsden substitutes Megan Robson Owens and Hollie Kirtley both scored, only for Brighouse to pull a goal back and make for a nervy ending.