Silsden 2

Irlam Town 5

A DEPLETED Silsden crashed to a heavy home defeat to Irlam Town in the Hallmark Security League Premier Division.

Manager Danny Forrest had to shuffle the pack again due to unavailability because to injuries, suspensions and holidays, but welcomed back Matty Moses from long-term injury along with goalkeeper Callum Jakovlevs, returning from Prestwich to the bench.

The visitors who drew first blood in the eighth minute when, following a throw-in on the right, the ball was played into the Silsden box. Matthew Boland’s flicked header looked to be going wide but it struck Silsden’s right upright and ricocheted out in front of goal. The ball was cleared but struck Boland and ball trickled over the line.

Silsden struggled to get their slick passing game going and Irlam grew in confidence, but Sammy Lee’s raking kick out found Niall Sultan on the left flank.

Sultan cleverly beat his man before delivering a deep cross to the far post which was met by strike partner, Aidan Kirby’s leap. His header was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by visitors’ custodian Lee White.

Within 30 seconds the ball was cleared up the pitch into midfield, a through ball finding Liam Pollitt’s run beyond the Silsden back line. Pollitt drew Lee and slid the ball home to double the visitors' advantage.

Silsden were struggling to get a foothold in the game and Irlam threatened again from Boland’s near post corner from the left which was headed over by the diving Pollitt. This was followed up by Karl Cassell’s header being tipped away by Lee.

Silsden did start to get to grips after half an hour and a dangerous ball into the box from Moses on the byline was dropped by keeper White. The ball was cleared.

On 36 minutes, Reece Lyndon’s probing long through ball found Kirby who broke into the box. However, his shot was blocked and the keeper gratefully gathered.

Silsden came out of the interval with a bit more purpose and sought a way back into the game.

In the 50th minute Kirby drew a foul on the right-hand corner of the Irlam box and Joe Gaughan coolly slotted home the resulting spot-kick.

This should have given the Cobbydalers the lift that they needed to get back into the game but a penalty at the other end against Moses for a foul on Pollitt gave Boland the opportunity to restore Irlam’s two-goal cushion. He duly obliged by sending Lee the wrong way.

Irlam right back Andre Stewart then broke forward on 71 minutes but his low shot was comfortably gathered by Lee.

Minutes later Storrie’s overloaded free-kick from the left was hooked back into the visitors' box by Illingworth, White flapped at it and the ball fell for Sultan but his shot cleared the bar.

Following this, a long-range effort from Moses went over the Irlam bar as the visitors cleared their lines.

On 77 minutes Sultan’s free-kick into the box found Lee Rhodes, but he headed straight at White.

Although Silsden were now pressing hard there were still signs of danger at the other end and, when Illingworth was caught on the ball and robbed by Pollitt, Lee had to be alert to come out and divert his shot away for a corner.

Silsden substituted Luke Baldwin for Sultan on 83 minutes and within 30 seconds found themselves further behind, following a lack of concentration after a throw in their own half.

Silsden lost possession again and Pollitt found Marcus Perry’s central run and his scuffed shot wrong-footed Lee.

Moses and Richard Ainscough made way for youngsters Ben Darkins and Harrison Hardisty-Blackwell. In the 85th minute Storrie played a superb free-kick into the visitors' box from out on the left deep in the Irlam half and Lyndon powered his header past a despairing keeper to make it 4-2.

Silsden’s misery was completed in the 89th minute, when playing out from the back, Lyndon’s ball to Rhodes saw him dispossessed by Liam Morrison. He carried the ball forward before chipping into the unguarded goal to score Irlam’s fifth.

SILSDEN: Lee, Moses (Darkins 85), Everingham, Ainscough (Hardisty-Blackwell 85), Illingworth, Lyndon, Rhodes, Gaughan (c), Storrie, Kirby, Sultan (Baldwin 83) Subs not used: Jakovlevs & Forrest.