The Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division 2020-2021
Wednesday 28th October 2020
ALBION SPORTS 2 v 1 SILSDEN AFC
Albion Sports Goalscorers: Donovan 31 & Facey 42.
Silsden AFC Goalscorers: Simpson 50.
Attendance: 131
SIMPSON MAKES HIS MARK BUT ALBION PROVE TOO STRONG
The Cobbydalers travelled to Throstles Nest for their first game in ten days. Silsden welcomed new signing Mark Simpson from Liversedge. Simpson was once described as “one of the best forwards in the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division” and is Garforth’s record goal-scorer. The Lions welcomed back former skipper Aran Basi.
The kick off was delayed for fifteen minutes for the white lines to be remarked after a heavy downpour. Silsden were soon on the attack and Chris Wademan was unlucky not to open the scoring on four minutes when he was sent through by Simpson, but his low shot hit the post.
The home side then took control, pushing Silsden back. Sam Bradley headed a corner wide before Harry Parsons mistimed a tackle. Fortunately Sean Airey thwarted the following attack. Simpson then sent over a dangerous cross but Declan Lambton gathered comfortably.
Joe Mitchell was booked for pulling back an opponent and, following the free-kick, Andrew Cooper rattled the Silsden bar. The pressure continued and twice Kaine was called upon the clear the danger. When the ball was cleared, it was worked up to Jake Maltby. Maltby had two half chances but failed to pull the trigger.
Darke then denied Finn Donovan, who had chased down a through ball. Maltby became the second Silsden player to be booked! Midway through the half, Khurram Shazad almost levelled the score. With a dip of the shoulder and a shimmy to the left, he curled in a low ball which evaded Lambton’s dive only to hit the far post.
The Lions countered but, after a crafty dummy by Kieran Suddards, the full back’s final ball was off target. Albion kept up the pressure and Cooper slid a ball through to DONOVAN to open the scoring. The goal was followed by full-on attacking from the Lions. Cooper set up Facey but Darke’s strong hand denied him at the expense of a corner. The keeper punched the incoming ball away before again saving from Facey.
The Lions worked even harder to open up the Cobbydalers. Darke made an even better save, diving low to left. A brief break forwards by the Cobbydalers relieved the pressure but Shazad’s free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall. The ball was launched forward and Kaine was beaten by FACEY four minutes before the break.
On the stroke of half-time, Mitchell stole the ball from Spencer Gordon and hit a through ball to Wademan. Left-back Kieran Suddards’ perfect tackle ensured the home side kept their two-goal cushion at the break.
Danny Forrest replaced the young full-back Parsons at half-time with Carlton Pownall, who was unfortunate not to start after impressing at Maltby Main. Harry Thompson came on for Jake Maltby. Silsden looked more balanced and, after Kaine blocked a shot from Flaherty, the Cobbydalers began to attack. Shazad won a corner on the left and curled it to the far post where SIMPSON headed it home.
Mitchell then slipped a through ball to Thompson but his shot was charged down and the Lions countered. Kaine denied Peters at the expense of a corner. The ball was curled in. Darke gathered, only to be challenged illegally by Aran Basi who was cautioned.
Thompson became more influential in the middle of the park, setting up Shazad, who hit a low shot wide of the far post. Shazad then created a half chance for Hurles-Brook, who cut inside, but his shot was blocked. Thompson almost broke through the Lions’ defence but was closed down. Robbie Fox, who came on for Wademan, worked hard to create some openings but the experienced defenders held firm. With Silsden striving hard, throwing men forward, they were always susceptible to the counter attack.
Four minutes from time Albion broke clear and only a superb tackle from Pownall to retrieve the ball denied them a third. But in doing so he sustained a serious leg injury which necessitated him being carried off. Silsden finished with ten men. A tough encounter against a strong outfit. Silsden were indebted to Darke for keeping them in the game.
The Cobbydalers travel to Thackley on Saturday before entertaining Eccleshill on the following Tuesday.
ALBION SPORTS: Lambton, Suddards, Heaton, Gordon, A.Basi, Bradley, Peters (Ross 68) Cooper, Facey, Flaherty (K.Basi, 57),Donovan.
Subs not used; Jopp, Schofield, Doyle.
SILSDEN AFC: Darke, Barnes, Parsons (Pownall 45), Kaine, Airey, Maltby (Thompson 45), Simpson, Mitchell, Wademan (Fox 68), Shazad, Hurles-Brook.
Subs not used: Hudson, Foley.
Referee: Mr.M.Findlay
Assistants: Mr.J.Whelan and Mr.C.Pepper
