The Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division 2020-2021
Tuesday 22nd September 2020
GARFORTH TOWN 1 – 0 SILSDEN AFC
Garforth Town Goals: Lazenby (83)
Silsden AFC Goals: N/A
Attendance: 118
COBBYDALERS SUCCUMB TO LATE WINNER
The Cobbydalers travelled to Garforth for their opening League game of the season. Danny Forrest named an unchanged side after Saturday’s FA Vase victory over Garstang. The pitch was dry and players had to adjust to a high bounce and a cross-field wind throughout the
game.
The Miners were quickly on the attack with Sam Barker sprinting down the left, only to see his cross headed clear by Josh Kaine. Karl Fitzgerald then fired over the bar after Myles Foley had failed to clear a through ball. This was followed by a superb cross from Jack Lazenby but Fitzgerald headed wide.
A strong run by Charlie Marshall down the right, ended with a timely interception by Foley, who then set up Silsden’s first attack on seventeen minutes. Josh McKiernon slid the ball to Anthony Brown who broke up the right before crossing to Khurram Shazad. His progress was halted by two defenders.
Skipper Lazenby then curled in a free-kick which bounced just wide of the far post. Midway through the half the Cobbydalers had their first clear chance. Brown broke up the left and crossed to Leon Hurles-Brook but Toby Wells denied him the opener with a low save to his right.
The Miners were thwarted by a superb save from Darke. Kaine broke up another Garforth attack before Shazad hit a cross to Brown but the striker delayed his shot which was easily blocked. Shazad then took matters into his own hands but his rising drive just cleared the bar.
Throughout the half the Cobbydalers defence was well marshalled by Sean Airey. His composure gradually spread to his fellow defenders and both Mark Everingham and Kaine made telling breaks up the flanks, which came to nought, however, against a strong home defence.
It looked like the defenders would ensure that the game would be goalless at the break. It was! But Silsden needed some luck to keep a clean sheet. McKiernon was dispossessed deep in his own half. Barker stole the ball and cut across the box, only to fire wide!
The fortunate McKiernon had another escape after his pass back to Airey was intercepted. The ball was slid through and ended in the net…..but the assistant’s flag was raised. Offside!!!!!
Silsden responded with Hurles-Brook sprinting up the wing before cutting across the penalty area. His shot was narrowly wide. Garforth countered but Barker’s shot was easy for Darke.
On sixty minutes Silsden saw three efforts blocked in the goal area after a corner was whipped in by Shazad. McKiernon, Hurles-Brook and Brown all saw efforts scrambled off the goal line.
The Silsden midfielders hadn’t been as effective as on Saturday and Trueman replaced Morgan with twenty-five minutes still to play. Immediately Trueman began to find space, which enabled him to spread the ball around to expose the home defence. He sent a through-ball to McKiernon but once again the shot was narrowly wide.
Half chances came at both ends with Kaine and Foley both blocking efforts at one end and substitute Dyllan Drovi, just off target at the other end. Finally the deadlock was broken, seven minutes from time, when Jack Lazenby netted after the home side finally managed to get behind Airey.
Silsden strove for the equaliser but the home defence held their nerve. The Miners almost got a second in a late breakaway, being denied by Darke, before Everingham went as close as anyone to netting an equaliser in the dying seconds.
On Saturday the Cobbydalers travel to Yorkshire Amateurs. The Ammies were in third place in the table late in the season but the Cobbydalers snatched a point off them with a late stunning equaliser from Wademan.
GARFORTH TOWN: Wells, Leach (Smith 75), McGahan, Lazenby, Fitzgerald,
Marshall, Coupland, Burton, Turner (Colley 80), Barker.
Subs not used: Mayall, Davison, Silva.
SILSDEN AFC: Darke, Kaine, Everingham, Barnes, Airey, Foley,
McKiernon (Wademan 87), Morgan (Trueman 67), Brown,
Shazad (Drovi 74), Hurles-Brook.
Subs not used: Higginson, Hudson.
Referee: Mr.D.Holbrook
Assistants: Mr.J.White and Mr.M.Rose
