Match Details
Silsden v Bradford Park Avenue
Friendly
Saturday 9th July
The Office Interiors Stadium
Match Report
On a bright and sunny afternoon at The Office Interiors Stadium, Silsden earned a hard fought 2-1 victory over National League North side Bradford Park Avenue as we continue our pre-season preparations ahead of the 22/23 campaign.
Despite falling behind just 10 minutes in, a composed, first-half penalty from Josi Bradshaw brought the scores level before new striker Lamin Jaddeh opened his Sils account with a neat finish on 52 minutes. Winger Arale Mohamed also saw a late penalty well saved.
A strong and organised performance from Silsden against an admittedly experimental Park Avenue side, but it can certainly provide a confidence boost to both players and fans alike.
It would be the visitors who started the brighter, Cobbydaler’s keeper Matty Keen was forced into action just five minutes in, using his agility to tip over a close range effort following a corner.
Bradford would lead just a few minutes later when two unnamed trialists combined. Good work by the winger down the left allowed him space for the cross, which was simply tapped home at the back post.
Sils however, quickly looked for a way back into the game. Luke Brooksbank fired a shot narrowly wide of the post before Bradshaw used his strength to break into the area before being brought to the ground by the BPA defender.
Bradshaw, last seasons Player of the Year, stepped up and rolled his spot kick calmly into the right hand corner of the goal.
For the remainder of the half, chances were few and far between with visiting defender Luke Havern coming closest, heading just over from a freekick.
Silsden would make two changes at the break and it would be the introduction of striker Jaddeh proving instrumental as he latched on to a perfectly weighted through ball from stand-in captain Kyle Hancock. The new man kept his composure to round keeper George Sykes-Kenworthy before slotting the ball into an empty net.
Over the next 20 minutes, both sides would go in search of the next goal. The visitors fired a number of half-chances over Keen’s crossbar, before tricky winger Mohamed also curled a decent chance over the top of the goal.
With the game in its dying minutes, Mohamed would again cause problems for the Bradford defence, his pace allowed him to latch onto a loose ball in the box before he was tripped, leaving the ref with no choice but to point to the spot for a second time.
The former Athletico man took on the responsibility himself but was unfortunate to see his penalty saved by Sykes-Kenworthy.
Despite the miss, Silsden would hold on to claim a brilliant 2-1 win and they will want to keep the winning momentum heading into Wednesday’s friendly with Nostell MW.
