The Buildbase FA Vase 3rd Round
1-12-2018
Northwich Victoria FC 3 – 0 Silsden AFC
Barski 13 Attendance 174
Fitzgerald 38
Brownhill 86 pen
Victory for the inform Vics
The Cobbydaler`s travelled to Cheshire to face Northwich Victoria in the FA Vase, both sides having reached the 3rd round for the first time in their history.
Danny Forrest has several players back from injury and on paper his team looked good, but the lack of game time and match fitness was to tell on the Yorkshire outfit.
At the back Dan Illingworth and Josh Kaine were partnered together allowing Arley Barnes to return to the midfield to partner Joe Mitchell, himself back from a lengthy injury.
Silsden took the corresponding league fixture 2-0 in late September and from that date Northwich have been upwardly mobile winning 9 of their games losing only to second placed Congleton and Tranmere Rovers in the Cheshire Senior Cup.
The game started at a frantic pace with Chris Wademan being halted by Brandon Barski. Illingworth then halted Harvey Whyte and Reece Lyndon blocked a shot from Dom Craig at the expense of a corner.
Chris Wademan then saw his low shot saved by Danny Taberner, the game certainly felt like a cup tie.
Sammy Lee made a superb save from Joel Brownhill`s thunderbolt shot from outside the box on 12
minutes but 2 minutes later BARSKI opened the scoring after the Silsden defence failed to clear a corner.
The Vics were moving the ball swiftly with verve and each recipient of a pass were given several options to move the ball on. Kaine managed to deny Matthews and Lee cleared the ball after one build up.
The Cobbydaler`s were being pushed back by a rampant home side. Whyte had a shot deflected for a corner, which Illingworth headed clear.
Silsden began to string some passes together but they were struggling to get behind the home defence.
After Matthews had shot wide the Vics broke away again swiftly but Moses cleared for a corner. The ball was headed goalward, Lee gathered it only to spill it under pressure, Andy Fitzgerald blasted the ball into the back of the net. A foul on the keeper, not in the refs eyes. Silsden were 2-0 down in 38 minutes.
Just before the half time whistle Mitchell curled a shot just wide just before the ref blew,
Silsden started the second half on the offensive with sharper passing. Mitchell had a shot blocked early on then Wademan`s effort, just wide. The Cobbydaler`s had to be more offensive but this offered opportunities to Northwich to break away. Lee made a great save from Brownhill who was deemed offside anyway. Benthan cleared a corner before Sultan and Gaughan combined to create a great chance but the Vics defence stood firm.
On the hour Illingworth broke up a dangerous attack then Brownhill fired over the bar.
With 15 minutes left Danny Forrest replaced Gaughan and Everingham came on for Lyndon. Forrest brought more impetus up front but not for long as the energy seeped from the Cobbydaler`s.
The final 10 minutes saw Sammy Lee make 4 outstanding saves as Silsden were pushing forward. The first from Brownhills shot from outside the box, then at full stretch he flicked Cooke`s shot over the bar. Mason shot wide of then post then Lee denied Brownhill yet again. Finally, he dived at the feet of Brownhill, there was a foul in the area and this time Brownhill made no mistake with the spot kick.
In the dying minutes Forrest went close at the other end before seeing another shot saved following a throw in. The final whistle went with Northwich well worthy of their win. They were tight at the back and a real threat at every attack.
Silsden were exhausted at the final whistle, particularly the ones short of match fitness after injuries. They never gave up, but they had faced what Danny Forrest described as “The best team in the league in this form and the very best of luck to them in the final 32.”
The tough games do not stop for Silsden. On Saturday they visit Runcorn Town, 3rdin the league, and on the following Tuesday they are at 2nd placed Congleton, who, with 1 game in hand are 6 points behind the league leaders, City of Liverpool.
Silsden;
Lee, Bentham, Moses, Kaine, Illingworth, Lyndon (Everingham 74`) Barnes, Mitchell, Wademan, Gaughan (Forrest 74`) Sultan. Subs not used, Rhodes, Ainscough, Storrie.
