Match Details

Toolstation Northern Counties East League

Knaresborough Town 0-0 Silsden

Tuesday 1st March

Manse Lane

Match Report

Silsden were held to a 0-0 draw away to 10 man Knaresborough Town last night in what could be described as a feisty affair.

Despite both sides creating a number of decent chances, the defences stood firm to deny either side a breakthrough and keep the game goalless.

Sils looked to have the advantage following a first half sending off for the hosts, but we couldn’t find a breakthrough against a hard-working Knaresborough side and we head back to West Yorkshire with a point.

The early exchanges saw little of note other than a blocked shot from Jos Bradshaw, not long after the game would descend into a series of free-kicks for both sides around the central areas of the pitch. Both sides showing hunger to win the ball, but ultimately giving away a number of fouls.

Our hosts would create the first clear cut opportunity of the game when a through ball from their winger was spilt into the path of their onrushing striker by Kyle Welsh, he quickly made up for the error however, sticking out a right foot to brilliantly deny Knaresborough the opener.

As the first half continued, the game went end to end with both sides winning a multitude of corners but none resulting in anything threatening. The game sparked into life however with two bookings in three minutes. 32 minutes in, Silsden’s Carlton Pownell brought down his man on the edge of the area and received a yellow card. The resulting free kick was struck off the post and cleared from danger.

Just three minutes later, Knaresborough would be down to 10 men when a horrific late challenge from midfielder Jake Rose left the referee with no choice but to send him off. The remainder of the half saw little action, although there were a few calls for a second sending off for the hosts following a near identical challenge just five minutes after the first.

The second half continued the back and forth action of the first, with Silsden looking to control the game, but the hosts using fast counterattacks to put our defence under pressure. It would be us who created the first chance of the half when brilliant work from Brad Riley on the left allowed him to find Bradshaw. His cut back on the six yard line found Jack Normanton with plenty of room but a great sprawling save from the keeper denied him.

For the next 10 or so minutes chances were again limited, but on 63 minutes a charging run from the Knaresborough centre half left him with clear space 30 yards from goal. His powerful drive was acrobatically tipped over by Welsh much to the dismay of the home support.

Following this neither team created too many chances, Bradshaw fired into the side netting following a corner, and Knaresborugh fired a few shots over the bar, but it was not to be for either side. Despite late claims for a Sils penalty following a potential hand ball, the spoils were shared.

The result stretches our good run to just one defeat in our last ten and we remain in 12th place for the time being. Some positives to take from the game are another clean sheet for the defence, and a good battling display against a tough side from the lads.

Silsden Lineup – Welsh, Pownell, Everingham, Hancock, Illingworth, Barnes(c), Normanton, Mitchell, Bradshaw, Donovan, Riley (Moses,68).

Unused Subs – Gartland, Thompson, Mceneaney, Hudson.