The Hallmark League Premier Division 2018-19
Saturday, 12th January 2019
SILSDEN AFC 0 v 1 ABBEY HEY
Walker 69. Att. 131
ABBEY’S ONLY EFFORT ON TARGET SINKS BELOW-PAR SILSDEN
The Cobbydalers entertained, bottom of the table Abbey Hey on Saturday. It was a dismal day for the Yorkshiremen who wasted a host of chances and fell to a late goal from the visitors.
Under new management, the Mancunians were determined to climb up the League table. New boss Paul Moore has brought in numerous new players and only three of the “old guard” started the game at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium. No fewer than seventy-nine players have signed for the Abbey this season!
After twelve league defeats on the run from 21st October to 26th December, in which they conceded 36 goals and scored 2, things changed for Abbey Hey. On 29thDecember the Abbey beat Irlam, 2-1. (Irlam have reached the 5th Round of this season’s FA Vase!) The Cobbydalers have lost five of their last six.
That said, this was a game the Yorkshire outfit should have won with the number of chances they created. A late goal from Oliver Walker was the visitors only shot on target! In a game where the wind made the conditions difficult, it was actually better to play against the wind, as many long balls caught on the wind, blowing towards the clubhouse.
Silsden, with the wind at their backs, won a corner in the opening minutes. The ball was headed out but Aidan Kirby went close with an overhead volley. Matty Moses then shot across the face of the goal before Niall Sultan drove the ball back in. It was cleared but hit back in to Kirby who shot from a narrow angle. Josh Samburg pushed it onto the post.
It was mainly Silsden in control but it was difficult to stop the ball from blowing dead. Dan Illingworth’s long ball was overhit before Sultan broke down the right and crossed into the goal area. Where were the Silsden strikers? Sultan hit another ball into the box but keeper Samburg gathered. Moses then denied Dan Hopkins a chance before Kirby’s header from Illingworth’s throw-in was gathered by Samburg.
Peter Watling, Oliver Walker and Hopkins then exchanged passes but Kaine denied them a shot. At the other end, Mark Everingham crossed to Kirby. His shot cleared the bar. Lewis Haydock then denied Joe Mitchell before Maguire was booked for a heavy challenge on Sultan. Sultan took the free-kick: Kirby headed over.
At the other end, Haydock shot wide before crosses from Everingham and Sultan flashed across the Abbey goal area. Gaughan latched on to a corner, cut back in, but his effort was saved. On the stroke of half-time Kirby hit a thunderbolt but Samburg made certain the game would be goalless at the interval.
Gaughan was in the action early in the second half. Moses burst up the wing, crossed, but Gaughan’s effort at the near post was saved. From then on the striker faded out of the action. Ten minutes into the half Moses burst forwards again. Kirby’s shot was blocked. Abbey’s first effort of the half came on sixty minutes, Edwards free-kick gaining pace as it bounced. Jakovlevs breathed a sigh of relief as it went whizzing past the upright.
For much of the first half Luke Rhodes had been a peripheral figure. He came into the game on sixty minutes. Running up the right, he cut in but his shot was wide of the target. At the other end Watling blasted over. A great run from Barnes, up the right saw him cross into the box. Kirby headed it down but there was no-one in support.
On sixty-nine minutes WALKER broke across the half-way line. He shot from forty-yards out. Jacovlevs didn’t have time to reach the ball as it bounce into the net, the visitor’s first significant effort.
Immediately Danny Forrest rang the changes, coming on himself with Will Storrie and Chris Wademan, for Gaughan, Everingham and Kirby, only the latter to have made an impact. Immediately the Abbey had men running at pace. Sultan’s great run and cross led to a powerful shot from Forrest.
Wademan and Storrie have been brought back into the team gradually after injuries. They looked ready to start. The ball was fizzed around as the substitutes put down a marker. Moses was up and down, Storrie and Sultan put in good crosses but Abbey flooded their own area to block any efforts on target. The visitors took the spoils.
Next Saturday the Cobbydalers travel to West Didsbury. Changes to the team seem inevitable with several players seemingly strolling through the game. Kirby still looks the best bet to lead the attack. He may not have scored but he was there when the chances came. He needs some luck! Of some others who had a bad day, Forrest needs to question their desire!
SILSDEN AFC Jakovlevs, Barnes, Moses, Kaine, Illingworth, Rhodes, Everingham (Forrest 70), Mitchell, Gaughan (Wademan 70), Kirby (Storrie 70), Sultan. Subs. not used. Bentham, Hardisty-Blackwell.
ABBEY HEY FC. Samburg, Edwards, Maguire, Doran, Okonkwo, Whitehead (Amando 80), Oko, Haydock, Watling, Walker, Hopkins. Sub. not used. Swallow, Dale, Opoku-Berchie, Heywood.
Referee. Mr. M. Coles. Mr. D. Chappell and Mr. A. Williams.
