The Hallmark Security League NWCFL Premier Division 2018-19
Saturday 6th October, 2018
SILSDEN AFC 0 v 3 RUNCORN TOWN
Att. 191 Jennings 52, Cox 66, Brazel 77.
SECOND HALF BLITZ SINKS COBBYDALERS
Having drawn with the league leaders on Tuesday in a game which thrilled the crowd, the Cobbydalers faced second-placed Runcorn Town, a team which has finished one place below the promoted teams in the last two seasons. Runcorn were two points ahead of Silsden, having played a game fewer at the start of play..
Josh Kaine, following an illness, returned to the team. Lee Spires was unavailable. The visitors had Dale Jennings in for his second game. Jennings, a Liverpool F.C. player until the age of 15, made his debut for Tranmere a few years later. Eventually he ended up at Bayern Munich and played in their second team. Not settling in Germany, he was transferred to Barnsley for £250,000 before moving to MK Dons, leaving the club in February 2016. He has just signed for the Runcorn outfit!
The first half was end-to-end with Niall Sultan demonstrating his return to full fitness with two strong runs early on. Arley Barnes then fed Aidan Kirby, who burst past John Shaw who slipped whilst turning. Kirby was denied by keeper Adam Reid who was quickly off his line. Kyle Hancock then broke clear but the defence closed him down and his final shot lacked venom.
Town responded with a strong run from Matt Waters which Illingworth halted at the expense of a corner. Cox and Shaun Weaver both had shots turned down as the ball fizzed about in the Silsden area like a pinball.
Aiden Kirby, often without quick support, tried to hold the ball up but Town defended well, blocking efforts from Sultan and Joe Mitchell. Harry Brazel broke away for the Cheshire side, but his final delivery was poor. Silsden’s best effort to date came when Hancock turned Turner and set up Sultan who fed Kirby. The striker’s shot was deflected for a corner.
Town responded down the right but Craig Linfield’s shot lacked power. Jennings did better but Lee saved well at his near post. The visitors thought they had taken the lead ten minutes before the break but the assistant’s flag was raised for offside. With four teammates in the penalty area, Brazel wasted a golden opportunity, shooting wide from a tight angle. Kendall then blocked a free-kick on the goal line.
The last five minutes saw chances at both ends. Craig Bentham hit a dipping free-kick into the box. Sultan met it perfectly with his head but somehow, Reid dived to push it wide. From the corner Illingworth shot over the bar. Kirby then created an opening for Sultan but he was marginally offside. Runcorn broke down the left but Barnes was to deny them twice before the break.
Sultan forced a corner in the opening minutes of the second half. Hancock curled it in. Illingworth headed to the far post. The ball was blocked but only to Barnes, who saw his effort thwarted. Five minutes later a through ball was hit into the Silsden box. Lee and Illingworth left it for each other. JENNINGS took advantage to tap it home! Minutes later the Silsden keeper picked up a back-pass. Free-kick in the box was given which was fortunately cleared by Kendall.
At the other end Kirby was crowded out before Hancock weaved his way past three defenders but again his shot was easy for Reid to save. Twenty minutes into the second half, COX chipped the advancing Lee. Had one of the defenders read the situation the ball might have been cleared…but they didn’t! Two-nil.
Storrie came on for Everingham and immediately ran at the Town defence. He was tripped. Hancock curled it in but Kirby shot wide. The visitors broke forward and were rewarded with a corner. BRAZEL rose above everyone else to make it three!
Storrie worked hard in the dying minutes before Lee denied Town’s Thelwell a fourth. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Illingworth pushed Cox in the back. Pointless! He was cautioned for a second time and sent off. The final whistle went.
Could the second half performance be explained? Unlikely! Both sides had tough games in mid-week, Silsden drawing with City of Liverpool on Tuesday, Runcorn beating Congleton away on Wednesday. Individual errors? Possibly. That’s a matter of concentration and confidence. Injuries? Certainly the team have missed Matty Moses and Wademan so far and Sultan to a lesser extent. History? Unlikely, but having played Runcorn eleven times to date, the Cobbydalers have a dire record of one win and two draws. Goals for 8. Goals against 30! A real bogey team!
Or maybe it’s just down to one game with the visitors just being stronger on the day. Silsden are still third! At the beginning of the season the fans would have accepted that.
Danny Forrest has to lift the troops for the County Cup game against Barnoldswick on Tuesday but more importantly for the F.A. Vase game at Staveley Minors Welfare next Saturday.
SILSDEN AFC. Lee, Bentham, Kendall (Lyndon 81), Kaine, Illingworth, Mitchell, Barnes, Hancock, Everingham (Storrie 68), Kirby, Sultan. Subs not used. Tomas, Keen, Forrest.
RUNCORN TOWN. Reid, Turner, Waters, Shaw, James, McManus, Brazel, Weaver (Wainwright25), Lindfield (McDonald 80)Cox, Jennings (Thelwell 81). Subs not used. Wright, McGregor.
Officials. Mr. E. Duckworth. Assistants. Mr. S. Taylor and Mr .G. Allison.
