AFTER waiting four weeks to get back out onto the pitch following a 4-1 home win, Silsden played out a 0-0 draw with 1874 Northwich in the North West Counties League premier division.

Three blank Saturdays and a postponement meant that the Cobbydalers were playing their first game in March. The enforced break may have taken the sharpness off their match fitness but they did create chances against the visitors.

In the first half, Arley Barnes forced a good save from Northwich keeper Nosakhare Aghayere, and the stopper also did well to make up some ground to palm a Luke Rhodes shot round his post.

In the second half, Laurence Sorhaindo saw his header hit the crossbar and a shot from Barnes was deflected wide. The visitors created some good chances throughout the game and Callum Jakovlevs had to be alert.

The stalemate leaves Silsden just one point and one place behind 1874 in mid-table.

Steeton made the trip to leaders Longridge Town in division one north and they returned with their tail between their legs after suffering a 5-2 defeat.

Longridge’s Richard Allen claimed a hat-trick as the Lancastrians were good value for their victory. Allen opened the scoring midway through the first half with the first of two goals in as many minutes, Adam Lawrence netting the second.

The Chevrons hit back through Ben Clarkson early in the second half and four minutes later they were all-square after Jack Richmond added their second. But another quickfire double, both from Allen this time soon after the hour mark, took the game away from the visitors.

Rio Wilson-Heys gave the home side a nap hand eight minutes from time.