The Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division 2020-2021
Saturday 31st October 2020
THACKLEY AFC 0 v 1 SILSDEN AFC
Thackley AFC Goalscorers: N/A
Silsden AFC Goalscorers: Wademan 86
Attendance: 202
HALLOWEEN TREAT FOR COBBYDALER’S FANS
After a period of heavy rain the Dennyboys’ pitch was deemed fit to play on. In fact the strong wind that was forecast never materialised and the play flowed from end to end. Both teams were in the lower half of the table, with Thackley having won only one in eight of their league games and Silsden only winning two out of six.
The big surprise in the Cobbydalers’ team was the inclusion of left-back Carlton Parnell, who had had to be carried off towards the end of the midweek game against Albion sports. Harry Thompson came in for Chris Wademan.
The Dennyboys had the better of the opening exchanges with Luke Robinson looking sharp. Their first real chance came from their second corner but Chris Lever headed wide. Four minutes later a superb tackle by Parnell denied them the opener.
Thackley keeper Luke Wilson managed to punch a free-kick clear before Leon Hurles-Brooks appeared to have been pulled back in the Dennyboy’s area. The whistle never blew. A high foot on Mark Simpson resulted in a caution and a free-kick. Simpson took it but it was tipped for a corner by Wilson.
Silsden began to take control with some patient passing but there was little penetration until Barnes slid a ball through to the back post where Whiteley cleared for a corner. Thomson made a good contact with the ball but his effort just cleared the bar.
The best spell from the home side came midway through the half, with Lewis Waddington curling in three crosses from the left. The Thackley forwards failed to capitalise with Luke Robinson going the closest to opening the score.
Hurles-Brook then produced some magic. His through-ball to Simpson ended with the striker hitting the side-netting. Interplay with Khurram Shazad came to nought, with a right-foot curler whizzing past the far post. Shazad then threaded a ball through to Hurles-Brook but he couldn’t quite get a touch on it.
With Mitchell patrolling the midfield the Cobbydalers continued to force Thackley onto the back foot. Barnes hit a ball over to the left where Pownall had made a strong run. He reached the edge of the penalty area but his shot cleared the bar. Two dips of the shoulder by Liam Hudson and a shimmy to the left ended with another effort missing the target.
Five minutes before the break the Dennyboys claimed a penalty. Lewis Waddington hit at low ball which struck Barnes’s hand. Ball to hand! No pen! Shazad managed to weave himself into the opposition’s packed penalty area but he was crowded out.
Silsden continued on the front foot at the start of the second half. Hurles-Brookes broke ahead of three chasing defenders but ran out of steam on the heavy pitch. Another effort was saved by Wilson, who also denied Thompson.
Thackley’s Grech-Brooksbank set up a counter-attack which was cleared by Airey. The Silsden forwards were linking up well but the killer touch was missing.
After being on the back foot for much of the game, Thackley might well have taken the lead when Chris Lever headed down to Luke Robinson but he sliced his effort wide. The home side kept up the pressure and, after Kaine had broken down one attack, Robinson headed wide.
As the players tired, chances came at both ends. Thomson became more involved setting up Pownall. Nut-megging one defender, the full-back was halted in the act of shooting. Kaine was on hand at the other end, as the Silsden defence was stretched.
Simpson was replaced by Wademan with fifteen minutes left and Ollie Russon came on for Thompson. However Silsden were indebted to Darke, who denied Robinson the opener, with his feet when the forward was in the clear. Robbie Fox came on for Shazad.
Finally, five minutes from time, the stalemate was broken. Silsden broke down the right, catching out a stretched Thackley defence. The ball was crossed in to the Thackley box. Initially blocked, the ball reached Fox who missed it, but there was WADEMAN at the back post to rifle it home.
Silsden substitute, Russon fired high over the Thackley bar. The Dennyboys still had time to equalise but Kaine blocked Grech-Brooksbank’s low shot in the final minute to deny them a share of the spoils.
Danny Forrest and his team were delighted with the result moving the Cobbydalers up the table. “It was a hard-fought game in energy-sapping conditions. We certainly created several good chances but one-nil was enough to give the lads and fans a lift”
On Tuesday the Cobbydalers entertain Eccleshill United. It may be the last game for a while!
THACKLEY AFC: Wilson, Whiteley, Hargreaves, McGuire, Haigh, Jones (Kasongo 56), McCuster-Butcher (Dimuka 63), Lever (Broadbent 84), Robinson, Grech-Brooksbank, Waddington.
Subs not used: Muller, Marsh.
SILSDEN AFC: Darke, Barnes, Pownall, Kaine, Airey, Hudson, Hurles-Brook, Mitchell, Simpson (Wademan 75), Shazad (Fox 84), Thomson (Russon 75).
Subs not used: Maltby, Parsons.
Referee: Mr.S.Clayton
Assistants: Mr.K.Haycock and Mr.M.Leadbeater
