The Hallmark League Premier Division 2018-19
Saturday 19th January 2019
WEST DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON 2 v 1 SILSDEN AFC Hall 34, Horner 55. Illingworth 47.
Att. 261.
DÉJÀ VU AS COBBYDALERS SLIDE CONTINUES
The Cobbydalers travelled to Brookburn Road aiming to get their first points on 2019. Unfortunately the game ended just as Silsden’s last encounter here had done three years ago, with a two-one defeat and having had a forward and a keeper sent off. In that case it was Josh McNulty and Danny Thorpe; this time it was Joe Gaughan and Callum Jakovlevs
Despite the absence of Aidan Kirby, Danny Forrest was able to start with a strong line up, Chris Wademan and Will Storrie each starting after recent injuries. A low mist had settled on Manchester.
Silsden started positively with Wademan breaking down the right but the move ended with the flag raised for offside. Dan Illingworth cleared up West’s first sortie forwards and released Storrie down the left. The winger’s cross found Gaughan who shot wide. Storrie then shot across the face of the goal, having been set-up by Luke Rhodes.
Storrie and Wademan then exchanged passes before the ball was slid to Niall Sultan, who failed to get enough power on his cross. Storrie nearly opened the scoring but keeper Will Jones came off his line to narrow the angle. The pressured continued with Gaughan hitting a clean strike goalwards. Unfortunately Storrie was in the line of fire.
It was all Silsden. Illingworth sent Wademan away before he was denied by a fine challenge by Thomas Horner. Gaughan was fouled twice in a matter of minutes. On both occasions John Sergeant kicked the ball away to prevent the Yorkshiremen from taking quick free-kicks!
Still the Cobbydalers pushed forwards. A double side-step by Sultan ended with Jones managing to parry his twenty-five yard shot. Finally, the home side managed to break out of defence. They were awarded a free kick which was lifted into the penalty area. Stephen HALL drove it goalwards but Jakovlevs had it covered…that was until it deflected off the unlucky Barnes.
West were determined to defend their goal in numbers and as Silsden attacked yet again, there was a melee just midway into the homeside’s half. Gaughan faced up to some opponents and was sent off as was West’s John Sergeant, who had drifted away from trouble. Obviously the referee has spotted a serious infringement.
The game restarted with Storrie again causing panic in the home defence. His cross found Rhodes who headed over. At the other end Josh Kaine broke up another attack and Mitchell got back after Rhodes had been dispossessed.
Three minutes after the interval, Silsden equalised when ILLINGWORTH headed home Storrie’s corner. The centre back then headed clear at his own end before the injured Sultan had to be replaced by Mark Everingham. Everingham’s first touch of the ball saw him head over the bar after a free-kick for a foul on Storrie.
Finally the crowd was treated to a snapshot of “The Beautiful Game”, Thomas HORNER’s thirty-yarder into the top corner of the Silsden net, putting West back into the lead. The Mancunians, under new management, were determined to preserve their narrow lead.
Silsden responded with two headers but both Wademan and Illingworth were wide of the target. Forrest came on for Wademan. Immediately he hit a rasping free-kick which was pushed for a corner. Illingworth broke into the West goal area and was upended! The cries for a penalty were turned down!
Crosses came in from the Cobbydalers which were cleared. There was some slick one-touch football from the Yorkshire outfit. Forrest and Mitchell had shots blocked. With twenty minutes left Rhodes headed an Illingworth throw-in to Mitchell who volleyed over!
Kaine then made a break forwards and crossed into the box. Forrest appeared to be impeded but the ball was cleared up the pitch. The Cobbydalers were stretched. With the game entering six minutes of stoppage time, West broke free but Jakovlevs denied Joel Dixon twice from close range. The ball was cleared down field but, with most of the Silsden players in West’s half, Dixon latched onto a long ball. Jakovlevs came out of his box and clattered into Dixon. The “No Foul! No Foul!” keeper was dismissed! Kaine took over between the posts.
With so much possession and numerous chances, one wonders how the visitors didn’t end up with a least a point. Surely the tide will turn soon. Next week the Cobbydalers travel to league leaders, City of Liverpool. Now that would be something special!
WEST DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON FC. Jones, Tinker, Pearson, Sergeant, Eiselt, Horner, McLaughlin (Uchegbulan86), Hall, Kilheeney, Shaw (Gavin 78), Coombes(Dixon 80). Subs Miranda, Butucell.
SILSDEN AFC Jakovlevs, Barnes, Moses, Illingworth, Rhodes, Storrie (McKiernon 78), Mitchell, Wademan (Forrest 57), Gaughan, Sultan (Everingham 52). Sub not used Bentham.
Referee. Mr. A Bennett. Assistants. Mr N. Usher and Mr. L. Ockleshaw.
