ASHTON ATHLETIC FC 1 v 0 SILSDEN AFC Moses (OG.) 23. Att. 54
BELOW PAR COBBYDALERS FALL TO OWN GOAL
The Cobbydalers travelled to Ashton in Makerfield for their sixth away game on the run. The surface was greasy and the pitch was one of the Division’s smaller ones. Athletic were soon on the attack moving the ball swiftly to willing runners, Adam Gilchrist shooting over the bar. For ten minutes it was one-way traffic and only Dan Illingworth seemed to stand in the way of an opener. Firstly the centre back denied Gilchrist then he headed Declan Gallagher’s free-kick clear. The centre back even went close at the other end but his header from a corner went wide.
Silsden first attack of note should have led to a shot at least. Joe Mitchell won the ball and slid it to Niall Sultan. The winger fed Mark Everingham who was in the clear but, instead of shooting, he cut inside and was closed down. Matt Reid cut in at the other end and shot over before Illingworth again cleared Declan Gallagher’s through ball. Arley Barnes managed to clear a corner before Luke Rhodes wasted a free-kick.
When Barnes fed Kirby the striker drove the ball across the goal beyond the home keeper. Guffogg cleared. Everingham shot wide. With both sides finding it hard to get a shot on target, it was no surprise that the opener was an own goal, MOSES being the unlucky scorer when trying to block a shot.
The pattern of play didn’t alter, with players failing to hit the target. Kirby volleyed over after good work by Barnes and Mitchell, then Callum Wilson went close for Athletic. Rhodes headed Barnes’ free-kick wide then Nicholson fired over at the other end. Marcus Cusani shot over for Athletic. Team mate Reid shot over and Cusani shot weakly at Jakovlevs when in the clear.
Maybe the conditions had a hand in proceedings particularly as the pitch got greasier. I certainly wasn’t “The Beautiful Game”.
At the start of the second half Rhodes and Sultan created efforts for each other but there was no end product. Both sides were profligate. Forrest brought on Joe Gaughan and new signing, Laurance Sorhaindo. Immediately Gaughan was in the action but his header from a Barnes cross was wide. Barnes denied Cusani at one end before hitting a weak shot into the arms of Pearson.
Silsden pressed with Sultan having a powerful shot saved. Gaps were left at the back where Josh Kaine was outstanding , breaking up several threatening attacks. Gaughan headed wide at the other end before the game went into stoppage time. Sultan took a deep corner, Illingworth headed it back into the box……Barnes shot wide. It summed up the game.
To say that Forrest was unhappy was an understatement! He will be expecting a massive response when the Cobbydalers play the first home game for a month against high-flying Barlick on Boxing Day. The Reds are expecting a bumper crowd. The fans will be expecting a performance!
On Saturday Silsden travel to Litherland. The Kick-off is 1pm.
ASHTON ATHLETIC. Pearson, Guffogg (Munro 70), Matthews, Gallagher, Cringle, Wilson, Reid, Webster, Gilchrist, Cusani, Nicholson. Subs not used. Watson, Mc Loughlin, Middlemore, Foulds.
SILSDEN AFC. Jakovlevs, Barnes, Moses, Kaine, Illingworth, Bentham, Rhodes (Gaughan 61), Mitchell, Everingham (Storrie 79),Kirby (Sorhaindo 61), Sultan. Subs not used. Lyndon, Lee.
Referee. Mr. M. Ryder. Assistants. Mr J. Cliff and Mr. P. Woodward.
