Match Details
Toolstation Northern Counties East Football League
Silsden AFC 1-1 Penistone Church
Saturday 5th March
The Office Interiors Stadium – Attendance: 167
Match Report
A crowd of 167 watched on as Silsden and Penistone Church played out a gripping 1-1 draw at The Office Interiors Stadium yesterday.
In an end to end encounter, a first half goal from Church winger Reece High was cancelled out by an 81st minute Josi Bradshaw strike leaving both sides to share a point.
Although there were plenty of chances throughout the game, Silsden may have goalkeeper Alfie Darke to thank after his brilliant saves denied the visitors time and time again.
Manager Danny Forrest made two changes to the starting 11 for this game, bringing in Darke to replace Kyle Welsh who has picked up a small niggle, as well as Ant Brown who returns to the club after a spell with Mossley in the Northern Premier League.
It would be the latter who had the first impact on the game. After four minutes he raced in behind and shot from a tight angle to force a corner. The corner was fired in low towards Jack Normanton who struck low into the gloves of Church stopper Chris Snaith.
Normanton would have another great chance just 10 minutes later, good play down the right allowed Hancock to curl a cross towards the unmarked winger but his improvised, lunging volley ricocheted back off the post. The chances were coming, Brown, Normanton and Josi Bradshaw working well together to stretch the defence and work the ball in behind.
These chances seemed to be a wake-up call for the visitors who began to press forward themselves, first a scramble in the box caused some panic before being cleared by Carlton Pownall. Just 5 minutes later, a through ball found Reece High in behind and he kept his composure to place the ball into the bottom right corner, giving Darke no chance in the Silsden goal.
It was clear the momentum had shifted and Church looked to hit the front and double their advantage. A strike from the edge of the area curled just over before moments later, striker Keiran Ryan missed a guilt-edge chance when he fired over from just six-yards out.
Half time did little to affect the flow of the game, Church quickly hopped back on the front foot and only a good save from Darke denied them just three minutes in. This was then followed by some brilliant last-ditch defending from Silsden, a combination of both Pownall and captain Arley Barnes clearing not once but twice of the line in the space of just a few seconds to keep the game within reach.
With the game coming into the last 15 minutes, the visitors started to hold onto the ball and look to see out the clock, although this resulted in the keeper being booked for time wasting. When another Penistone free kick was brilliantly pushed onto the post and smothered by Darke, you got the sense the visitors might be worried about those missed chances coming back to bite them.
You can predict what happened next. Just two minutes later Silsden worked the ball towards the penalty area, although the initial shot was blocked, it dropped to Bradshaw on the edge of the box who rifled a low drive just out of the reach of the squirming keeper and into the bottom right corner; his 7th goal of the campaign.
That wouldn’t be the last chance of the game however, Normanton again finding space on the right and unleashing a fierce shot that flew narrowly over the cross bar.
With just 5 minutes to go, Church would get their best chance of the game. A loose ball broke to Ryan who beat his man before getting one on one with Darke. He fired a powerful shot towards the corner and in what can only be described as a moment of brilliance, the Silsden shot stopper dived low and pushed the ball wide with a strong right hand; you’d do well to see many better saves than that one.
Barnes had time to make one more goal line clearance from the resulting corner and despite more pressure from Penistone, the score remained 1-1. Silsden likely the happier side following that result.
Speaking after the game, the gaffer said he was pleased with the point, but knows the boys have the ability to be even better:
“We didn’t quite reach the levels we’re capable of and that we have done the last 10 games. The quality wasn’t quite there but a couple of months ago we would have probably rolled over and got our bellies tickled, but today we’ve had a go, stood strong and the attitude was bang on.”
Our next fixture sees us head to Mansfield to take on Sherwood Colliery this Tuesday as we look to build on today’s result.
