The Toolstation Northern Counties East F. L. Premier Division 2019-2020

Saturday Jan 18th 2020.

GARFORTH TOWN 3 v 0 SILSDEN AFC

Barker 27, Marshall, 41, Leach 45 Att. 168

SOME POSITIVES FOR WEAKENED COBBYDALERS

The Cobbydalers travelled to Garforth for the return fixture, having won their corresponding home game 7-1. Silsden were without the experienced Barnes, Illingworth, regular left back Everingham and Ben Higginson in goal. Eighteen year olds Jake Fairlie (goal) and Daniel Hill (centre back) were among a young side.

At the start of play the Miners were three points ahead of the Cobbydalers in the table. The game started brightly for Silsden with Lawrence Sorhaindo just being closed down after a weaving run by Matthias Britton. The young Silsden keeper was soon in the action, superbly saving Dan Coupland’s header after Joe Colley had crossed from the right.

Josh Kaine was then injured before Sam Barker had two shots, the first being blocked and the second clearing the bar. Charlie Marshall then shot narrowly wide as the Miners had some good possession. Silsden finally broke out, managing to keep the ball but without creating any chances.

Eventually Joe Mitchell slid a ball to Chris Wademan who was in a 50 yard chase with Charley Wrigley, the Miner’s defender eventually taking the sting out of Wademan’s effort. Kaine and Josh Brown kept the home side at bay before Sam BARKER opened the scoring with a screamer from twenty-five yards out.

Sorhaindo set up Wademan five minutes later but the shot cleared the bar, having struck a defender. From the resulting corner Brown headed Mitchell’s corner over the bar. The Silsden forwards, with their backs to goal, tended to try to keep the ball when there was the need for someone to break through the Miner’s rearguard or cut down the flanks. It was too easy for the Garforth defenders.

With five minutes left before the break Brown cleared Lee Turner’s corner before thwarting another attack but he was injured in the challenge. A mix-up between Kaine and Liam Hudson let in MARSHALL to notch the second. Silsden broke forward from the restart but the ball was cleared up field to Britton. Garforth counter attacked and Charlie Marshall’s pace took him though the Silsden defence and his cross set up Sam LEACH to make it three.

Craig Bentham replaced Brown at the interval. Sorhaindo for the Cobbydalers and Turner for the Miners drove efforts over their opponents crossbars before Garforth began to dominate. Fairlie, in the Silsden goal made a superb save to deny Turner’s powerful header and then the follow up.

The Cobbydalers tried to make some progress but there was little movement off the ball to stretch the home defence. The Miners were in control but fortunately the Silsden back four managed to block several efforts whilst Fairlie was secure in the goal.

Danny Riley and Shazad replaced Wademan and McKiernon. The former, who was at Silsden several years ago, has been playing in the USA and Spain, brought some pace and movement to the Cobbydalers but they were well chaperoned by the home defence. Kaine was then injured and, for a short period, the Cobbydalers were down to ten men.

Mitchell was still trying to drive the team forwards and he went close with a left foot shot late in the game. Foley hit a good ball down the right to Sorhaindo who forced a corner but the Miners were still in control.

The crowd gasped as the skipper James Beaton, hit an audacious effort from his own half which hit the Silsden post. Then, after another attack was broken up by Hill in the dying minutes, Sam Barker was denied by the woodwork.

Next Saturday the Cobbydalers are at home to Knaresborough Town who are five points below the Cobbydalers with a game in hand. Forrest will be hoping for some good news on the injury front.

The game on Saturday will be “A TRIBUTE TO JOHN McNULTY”, a club legend who died on Christmas Eve 2019. It is a “Pay what you want” day.

GARFORTH TOWN. Wells, Beaston, Leach, Coupland, Wrigley, Denton, Marshall (Silva 65), Williams, Barker, Turner (Wyatt 85), Colley.

SILSDEN AFC. Fairlie, Foley, Liam Hudson, Kaine, Brown ( Bentham 45), Hill, McKiernon (Shazad 64), Mitchell, Sorhaindo, Wademan (Riley 64), Britton, Subs not used, Taylor, Luke Hudson.

Referee. Mr. D. Guest. Assistants. Mr. L. Bramley and Mr. R. Bissett.