The Hallmark League Premier Division 2018-19
Saturday, September 29nd 2018
NORTHWICH VICTORIA 2 v 0 SILSDEN AFC
Whittle 60, Brownhill (pen) 78. Att.125
COBBYDALERS FINALLY COME UNSTUCK AT NORTHWICH
The Cobbydalers finally lost their first league game of the season on Saturday to sixth placed Northwich Victoria. The ten match unbeaten run came to an end against the “Vics” in a very even game. The Cheshire side had won five of their six home games only losing to the unbeaten leaders City of Liverpool, who have only dropped two points.
After their promotion last season, few would have expected Silsden to head the table for most of August and September, especially with the experienced Moses and Wademan ruled out with long term injuries and Niall Sultan with similar problems. That the side had done so well was due to a never-say-die attitude, with late goals keeping them earning vital wins.
The Cobbydalers travelled to Wincham Park, the home of Witton United, without skipper Josh Kaine through illness. Arley Barnes dropped into the back four also taking over the captaincy. Barnes was superb at the back but his influence and experience in the midfield was missed. Otherwise the team was unchanged following the victory a week ago at Winsford.
On a superb surface and in glorious sunshine, the “Trickies” were the first to show with John Connolly breaking down the left but his shot was tame. Barnes then broke up another attack before releasing Luke Rhodes, who crossed to Everingham who shot wide of the far post.
Brian Matthews managed to get a shot in after a corner but Sammy Lee saved comfortably. Barnes broke up another attack before Hancock, Mitchell and Rhodes combined but Hancock’s shot was pushed for a corner by Dan Taberner.
Silsden’s build up from the back was patient and precise with possession as important as creation. In contrast the “Trickies” used the long ball but with purpose rather than just hope. Midway through the half two good chances were created from the left, Matthews heading wide before Connolly’s shot cleared the far post.
Joe Mitchell was feeding the forwards from the midfield and his one- two with Hancock created a chance for Reece Kendall. Taberner saved the left-back low shot.
In the final ten minutes of the half the Cobbydalers began to take control. A throw-in from Illingworth found Rhodes but the keeper gathered his header. Everingham then played a one –two with Kirby. Using Mitchell as a decoy, the wing broke through but his shot was wide. A move of eight passes from the back ended with Kendal hitting the side netting.
The second-half started with defences on top. No one worked harder than Aidan Kirby but, with two defenders marking him, he needed support. A series of injuries disrupted the flow of the game before Northwich broke down the left. The ball was crossed over to the near post. There was mix-up in the Silsden defence with Sammy Lee catching the ball before it was inadvertently knocked from his grasp in a collision with Illingworth. Billy WHITTLE managed to scramble it home.
Silsden responded with a powerful run by Reece Lyndon whose powerful shot cleared the bar. Mitchell’s breakaway was halted by a superb tackle by Dominic Craig. Will Storrie and Niall Sultan came on for Rhodes and Kendall. Forrest was gambling on fresh legs but at the other end Illingworth, under pressure from Matthews, handled the ball in the attempt to shield it. Penalty! Lee dived but WHITTLE drove it down the middle.
Leading scorer Lee Spires came on for Reece Lyndon to bolster the attack. Mitchell broke through but his cross was behind his forwards. A free-kick from Bentham into the box caused confusion for the home defence. Shinks was lucky that his back header cleared his own bar. With the Cobbydalers throwing men forwards, Northwich broke away and Whittle hit the far post before Spires broke through but fired over.
In the dying minutes Lee did well to deny Matthews on the break and at the other end Sultan was crowded out. Kirby saw a header saved for a corner and Hancock’s shot was marginally too high.
After the game Danny Forrest was asked for his thoughts on the game. “It was a very tight game but we couldn’t quite convert our chances against a good Northwich team. It’s been a great start to the season and as usual the lads gave everything, but it wasn’t our day.”
NORTHWICH VICTORIA. Taberner, Cammozi, Monson, Craig, Shinks, Barski, Whittle (Clarke 87), Cooke, Matthews, Brownhill (Kenny 80), Connolly (Doran 78). Subs not used. Webb, Pilgrim.
SILSDEN AFC. Lee, Bentham, Kendall (Storrie 72), Barnes, Illingworth, Lyndon (Spires 79), Mitchell, Hancock, Everingham, Kirby, Rhodes (Sultan 72) Subs not used. Davis, Forrest.
