MATCH REPORT | Albion Sports 0-1 Silsden AFC

MATCH DETAILS

Albion Sports 0-1 Silsden AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Monday 27th January

Horsfall Community Stadium

TEAM DETAILS

Hall, Hunt, Clark, Daly, Coates, Cassidy, Brooksbank (Kilner, 95′), Cromack, Price (Greaves, 95′), Thewlis (Conteh, 86′, Billy, 95′), Stewart.

Subs: Thompson

MATCH REPORT

In a fiesty derby game at the Horsfall Community Stadium, Casey Stewart’s first half strike gave us a 1-0 victory over Albion with the hosts ending the game down to ten men following the sending off of former Cobbydaler T’Nique Fishley.

There was an impressive debut in between the sticks for Edd Hall who made a number of great saves as well as a first start for George Thewlis whose neat through ball provided the assist for the only goal of the game.

Having opened the scoring within the opening minute on Saturday, Stewart looked to start brightly in this one too, lashing a low strike off the post just two minutes into the encounter.

Albion began to grow into the game and forced an early scramble that ricocheted around our penalty area before Danny Hunt was eventually able to clear.

It would be Thewlis’ smart pass that unlocked the Albion defence on 20 minutes, Casey picking up the ball inside the area and taking some neat touches before unleashing a powerful strike that slipped through Kyle Trenerry’s gloves and into the net.

Hall was forced into action soon after as he got down quickly to palm away Nathan Cartman’s shot before returning to his feet to gather up the rebound.

Two of the better opportunities for both sides came towards the end of the half, Luke Brooksbank seeing an effort well blocked at one end before the hosts broke forward and hit a deflected shot drop behind for a corner.

Both keepers faced some tame efforts early on in the second half, Stewart and Sumaili Cissa respectively curling their shots straight into the gloves of the opposition stopper.

Sils skipper Ross Daly was controlling the game from midfield but didn’t neglect his defensive duties with a stunning block to deny Paul Walker from the edge of the area.

Controversy struck on 80 minutes as Cartman went down softly under the challenge of Hall, when the ref waved away the protests, the striker got up and appeared to go for the debutant keeper.

In the ensuing scuffle Fishley, not known for his aggression during his time at Sils got too involved and found himself sent off for violent conduct.

There were late chances for the 10-man Lions, Fernando Moke beating the offside trap and volleying goalwards, only to bring a stunning stop from the leg of Hall.

Despite some late corners for the hosts, a number of heroic blocks from our backline saw us hang on for a crucial three points in what had been a tough and nervy affair overall.

Those points have allowed us to open up a 12 point gap at the pinnacle of the NCEL Prem table, with no game this weekend allowing for extra time and work on the training pitch.