Match Details
Eccleshill United 2-2 Silsden AFC
NCEL Premier Division
Saturday 18th March
Mitton Group Stadium
Match Report
The spoils were shared in a Bradford derby between Eccleshill and Silsden at The Mitton Group Stadium as the visitors let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2.
Cobbydaler’s top scorer Luke Brooksbank’s double before the half-hour mark was cancelled out by Eccy goals either side of the break.
Despite the hosts dominating the second half, they were unable to find a winning goal giving Silsden their second draw in as many games.
In the early exchanges the visitors looked the most likely to open the scoring, Jacob Smith seeing a thunderous effort blocked before Ellis Hudson sent his shot wide on the follow up.
Brooksbank would grab the opener on 19 minutes, captain Kyle Hancock lifting a delightful ball over the top and leaving the young winger to smash home.
Hudson should have doubled the visitors lead soon after, when he rounded the Eccleshill keeper but with the goal at his mercy failed to hit the target.
His blushes were spared however as Brooksbank added his second of the afternoon with a poachers finish just inside the six-yard box just two minutes later.
Eccleshill would half the deficit from a freekick on 36 minutes, Hajie Damba made the initial save before Devonte Morton finished on the rebound.
After halftime the hosts took control of the tie, levelling through Luke Sidaway’s smart, low finish just two minutes after the restart.
With their tails up, Eccy took the game to Silsden, Damba making a fine save on 60 minutes with Arley Barnes behind him to clear away the danger.
Morton had a number of opportunities to win the game for the hosts, first sending a header wide before missing a gilt-edged chance in the final moments, smashing over from just yards out.
With that miss the score remained at 2-2, Silsden drawing for only the 3rd time this campaign. However having put an end to their losing run just last week, the Cobbydaler’s can be more than happy to see points back on the board.
They take on Hallam this Tuesday at The Office Interiors Stadium with the usual kickoff time of 7:45pm.
Silsden Lineup: Damba, Barnes, Stewart (Thompson, 61), Hancock (c), Smith, Laird, Hudson (Hoban, 61), Maltby (Grogan, 90), Normanton (Cissa, 73), Brooksbank, Crosby (Janneh Gitteh, 81).
