The Toolstation Northern Counties East F. L. Premier Division 2021-2022

Saturday, November 27th 2021

RILEY’S BRACE GIVE SILSDEN THE EDGE

            SILSDEN AFC 4  V  2  HANDSWORTH F. C.                                  

Riley 12, 44, Normanton 18,  Bradshaw 47.         Reece 70, Howarth 78.      Att.155.

           After a barren run with only two draws in the last five games, the Cobbydalers finally produced a super performance to warm their supporters on a bitterly cold day. Only two Premier division games took place on the day, credit to the work which has made the Keighley Road pitch one of the best in the league. The visitors, Handsworth, in fifth position, had beaten Silsden 4-2 on the opening day of the season. Unlike the Cobbydalers, whose history goes back to 1904, the Ambers were only founded in 2011 as Worksop Parramore before becoming Handsworth Parramore in 2014. The Silsden outfit had two changes with Illingworth and Hancock returning.

           The Cobbydalers took the initiative from the kick-off with Jos Bradshaw taking the ball down on his chest. He was denied by a swift intervention from the visitors’ keeper Alfie Hayes-Daubney. Two minutes later Bradshaw burst up the right and crossed to Jack Normanton, who saw his effort strike the post. Mo Qasim hit the rebound over the bar.

           The Ambers’ Jamie Austin then tried a speculative shot which Sammy Lee dealt with comfortably. Silsden countered with Brad Riley sliding the ball into a packed penalty area after a slick turn. Two minutes later Joe Mitchell set up RILEY who hit a screamer into the top corner of the visitors’ net. Five minutes later it was two nil.  A throw-in on the left found Bradshaw who immediately sent NORMANTON in the clear. He lobbed the ball over the visitors’ stranded keeper.

           From the restart Handsworth’s Richard Tootle sent Kane Reece through but his shot cleared the Silsden bar. However, the Cobbydalers confidence was growing. Qasim crossed to Riley, who should have had a pot at goal. Normanton then burst up the wing and crossed to Bradshaw who slid the ball to Qasim. His shot was cleared for a corner.

           Finally the visitors settled, to create some chances. Mitchell Dunne crossed from the right to Matthew Sykes on the left who attempted to curl the ball over Lee. The keeper tipped the ball over. The corner was cleared. Silsden’s next attack broke down and Jamie Austin chased a long ball. Lee was out of his area in a flash to clear the danger. A slick move down the right led to a corner for the visitors. Illingworth cleared before breaking down another attack with a crunching tackle.

           As the half-time break approached Bradshaw was just beaten to the ball by the Daubney who conceded a corner. Normanton curled the ball over. The visitors’ defence failed to deal with it and RILEY, with his back to goal, twisted to rifle it into the net.

           Matty Moses, who replaced the injured McEneany at the break, was soon breaking up the wing. A superb cross into the box found BRADSHAW, who made it four. Barnes played a one–two with Riley who hit his shot over the bar. Silsden were rampant. Mitchell hit a cross-field ball down the right. Qasim, who was on it in a flash, cut in along the by-line and slid the ball to Hancock who shot over the bar.

           Hancock was injured on sixty-four minutes and was replaced by Khurram Shazad. Up until that point the defence had looked secure with Mitchell and Hancock, in midfield, dealing with any threats from the Ambers. However the visitors threw caution to the wind. A long ball over the Silsden defence was headed home by Kane REECE on seventy minutes. Lee made a fine save to deny substitute Leon Howarth and then gathered a dangerous cross from the right.

           The Ambers netted a second eight minutes later when substitute HOWARTH curled the ball over Lee from outside the penalty area. 4-2! Having conceded late goals in recent matches, the Cobbydalers had to dig deep to keep the Ambers at bay. They still created chances on the break with both Qasim and Normanton going close. When Dunne broke clear for the Ambers on the left he lacked support.

           The final whistle went. There were a lot of positives in the game for Danny Forrest, especially the form of Brad Riley who looked sharper and more threatening and Josh Bradshaw, who is becoming a dangerous leader of an attack which is thrilling to watch!

           Next Saturday the Cobbydalers are on the road, but only to near neighbours’ Thackley.

SILSDEN AFC.   Lee,   Everingham,  McEneaney (Moses 46),   Hancock (Shazad 65){Gardner 88}), Illingworth. Barnes, Qasim, Mitchell, Bradshaw, Riley, Normanton. Subs not used. Forrest, Fenton.

HANDSWORTH Mackie, Tootle(Smith 62), Fewkes, Paylor, Roebuck, Sykes(Howarth), Reece, Austin, Teasdale(Baldwin 83) , Dunne. Subs not used. Essen, Bagnall.

Referee. Mr. A Williams. Assistants. Mr. K.J. Smith and Mr. D McKee.