Match Details
Toolstation Northern East Counties Football League
Albion Sports 3-0 Silsden AFC
Wednesday 6th April
The Citadel
Match Report
Silsden end the campaign in disappointing fashion with a 3-0 away defeat to a hard-working Albion Sports side.
Despite a first half stalemate, second half goals from Robbie Fox and Amir Berchil condemned the Cobbydalers to their third straight defeat in the league and gave the Lions a huge boost in their fight for survival.
With the result, we could potentially slip as low as 15th depending on other results around us. Whilst our opponents have moved out of the drop-zone and look set for another season in the NCEL Premier Division.
Whilst Sils did look to start on the front foot right from the first whistle, it would be the hosts who fashioned the better early chances. Within the first 10 minutes, they blazed over a glorious chance following a cut back, before Berchil smashed a shot high and wide after getting in behind.
This theme would continue throughout the first half, Berchil and former Silsden striker Mohammed Qasim’s pace were causing the defence problems as plenty of long balls came over the top. Thankfully the returning Sammy Lee was playing the role of sweeper keeper and eliminated much of the danger.
Towards the end of the half, we would fashion a chance from nothing through Ant Brown. A long, hopeful ball forward bounced towards the Albion penalty area and over the defender’s head. Brown raced onto it, but under pressure was only able to poke the ball towards goal, where Dec Lambton was able to stick out a leg and keep the scores level.
Within minutes of the restart, Albion would take the lead. A threaded pass from the left wing picked out an unmarked Fox in the box, who poked home a first time finish beyond Lee.
The Lions were in no mood to let up and soon after would double their lead. Another good pass in behind picked out Berchil again, the winger using his speed to race in behind and slot into the corner, despite the best efforts of Arley Barnes chasing him down.
As the weather worsened, so did the result for Silsden. A third goal for Albion and Berchil’s second put the game far out of our reach. In similar fashion to his first, he accelerated in behind the defence and was able to finish even with Barnes on his tail.
There was a sense of pathetic fallacy for The Cobbydalers. The heavy rain matching the disappointing result on the pitch. Whilst it may not have been the result we wanted, the lads will still have a chance to make amends next year. We thank you all for your support this season and hope you’ll be there to see what the future holds in the 22/23 campaign!
