Match Details
Toolstation Northern East Counties Football League
Emley AFC 0-2 Silsden AFC
Saturday 26th March
The Fantastic Media Welfare Ground – Att: 272
Match Report
Silsden came out with a 2-0 victory away to an in-form Emley side at the Welfare Ground on Saturday.
A brace from top-scorer Jack Normanton either side of half time gave the Cobbydalers the three points, also putting an end to a seven game winless run.
With the game falling on Non-League Day, a crowd of 272 gathered to watch the exciting affair, with both sides creating plenty, but the hosts just lacking a clinical final touch when posed with chances.
The early exchanges in the first 15 minutes saw neither side create a clear cut opportunity. Emley had the first shot of the game with George Doyle getting an effort away on the turn, but it was easily saved by keeper George Dalton.
Dalton, making his debut for Silsden was kept busy by the hosts, first clawing away a long, threatening through ball and then holding on to a low strike.
At the other end, Normanton was causing problems for the Pewits’ defence. His trademark runs in behind were putting pressure on both goalkeeper and centre backs. One of these runs found him one on one with Sam Kelly in the Emley goal, but it would be the latter who came out on top, smothering the ball as Normanton looked to dribble past him.
End-to-end opportunities fell to both sides as the half neared its end, Finn Donovan fired a shot over from the edge of the box and Dalton was again called into action, springing across his goal to push away a fierce drive from distance.
It would be the Cobbydalers who went into half time with the lead when a smart corner routine saw the ball drop out to the edge for Normanton, his strike took a deflection before nestling in the top corner to give the visitors the lead. A welcome goal for the striker who has been on a dry spell since the Athersley game at the end of February.
Emley’s Kane Swinburn almost brought the scores level just three minutes after the resumption. A nice touch took him past Carlton Pownall but he dragged his low shot wide of the post, much to the dismay of the home supporters behind the goal.
The hosts would again come close to an equaliser a few moments later. Doyle unleashing a long-range drive that Dalton could only parry into the path of an onrushing Joe Kenny, who blazed his shot over the crossbar when he really should have converted.
Despite the chances, it would be Silsden who doubled their lead on 60 minutes. Normanton chased a hopeful long ball and received the luck his persistent running deserved. The Emley defence allowed the ball to pass over their heads, Normanton beat Sam Kelly in a 50/50, leaving him to head into the empty net.
Things almost got even better for the Cobbydalers soon after, skipper Arley Barnes unleashed a rocket of a strike from 30 yards that thundered back off the crossbar. Such a shame for Barnes as that would have really been the icing on the cake for Silsden.
With the game coming to a close, the Pewits chased a goal and weren’t too far away on multiple occasions. Both Doyle and Sam Pashley heading wide from a free kick and a corner respectively.
Having conceded in all 6 of their previous games, the Silsden defence were desperate to keep the clean sheet and they did just that, seeing out the remaining minutes without any real issues. The centre half partnership of Harry Parsons and Dan Walker both looked solid as a pairing.
The happiness on the Silsden players faces was there to see as the final whistle blew and they can head into the final 3 fixtures of the campaign with a newly rebuilt confidence, starting with the trip to Eccleshill on Tuesday.
Silsden Lineup: Dalton, Pownall, Gardner, Parsons, Walker, Barnes, Normanton (Hudson,88), Mitchell (Thompson,78), Bradshaw, Donovan (Hancock,73), Riley
Unused Subs: Gartland, Illingworth
