MATCH DETAILS
Silsden AFC 2-1 Campion AFC
NCEL Premier Division
Tuesday 22nd August 2023
The Office Interiors Stadium – Att: 294
MATCH REPORT
Silsden came out on top in a Bradford District derby clash with high-flying Campion at The Office Interiors Stadium yesterday evening.
A first-half brace from summer signing Kayle Price was enough to see the Cobbydaler’s pick up a 2-1 victory over their local rivals.
An exciting game of football overall with plenty of moments of quality, the result put an end to the visitors unbeaten start to the campaign.
With Matt Cavanagh having spoke on the quality of Campion in an interview earlier this week, he was keen for Silsden to start well and prove themselves early on.
The lads clearly embraced the challenge and would open the scoring after only eight minutes.
Making his first start after returning from injury, Ellis Hudson showed neat footwork inside the penalty area before sending the ball across the six-yard box for Price to tap home his first competitive goal for Sils.
Things almost got even better on 20 minutes when more good play from Hudson set up Jake Maltby from 25 yards out, his curling effort brilliantly tipped over by Bradley Emmerson.
However, Campion have already proven themselves to be a threat on the front foot this season with Marcus Day leading the NCEL scoring charts.
It would be Day who grabbed the leveller on 25 minutes, a long ball picking him out and allowing him to volley home from just inside the penalty area.
Day should have added his and the visitors second soon after.
A loose backpass from Adam Clayton saw the striker bearing down on goal, but former Campion man Kyle Trenerry rushed off his line to deny him.
The end-to-end action continued as the half went on, Hudson seeing an effort cleared off the line from a corner before a counter-attack saw Michael O’Brien bend narrowly wide of the upright.
With a frantic first 45 coming to an end, a moment of brilliance from Price gave us the lead.
A long ball from Casey Stewart picked out the striker who took one touch before delicately lofting the ball over the onrushing keeper with his left foot.
Despite the action in the first half, the game seemed to quiet down in the second, with Silsden looking to hold onto their advantage and control the game in a smart manner.
Isaac Baldwin did have an effort cutting in from the left but it sailed comfortably over the bar.
The best chance of the half fell to our visitors on 62 minutes as they looked to press for an equaliser.
Former Emley winger Junayd Cassius-Gill did well to break free inside the box, before curling an effort towards the top corner of the net.
Trenerry once again showed his class however, diving across wonderfully to tip the ball behind for a corner that Silsden were able to clear.
Despite a number of dangerous set-pieces from the visitors, we were able to hold and secure a crucial and well deserved 3 points against one of the division’s toughest sides.
There’s a break from league action this Saturday as Newcastle Blue Star are the visitors to The Office Interiors Stadium for the FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round.
