MATCH DETAILS
Silsden AFC 2-1 Hallam
NCEL Premier Division
Saturday 2nd September
The Office Interiors Stadium
MATCH REPORT
A ten-man Silsden side made it three wins in a row on Saturday following a 2-1 triumph over high-flying Hallam at The Office Interiors Stadium.
A first goal for defender Spencer Harris and a close range finish from Ellis Hudson were enough to secure the points, despite a late Keiren Watson strike for the visitors.
In typical Cobbydaler’s fashion we didn’t make it easy for ourselves as Jacob Smith saw red on 61 minutes, but our defensive resilience was enough to see us claim the victory in the end.
Things almost got off to a disastrous start as Isaac Baldwin was forced to make a crucial goal line clearance just moments into the game.
We settled quickly after that early scare however and took the lead through the experienced head of Spencer Harris on five minutes.
A pinpoint Hudson corner found the centre half and he nodded a powerful header into the corner of the Hallam goal.
After all the early action, the game began to slow down and it would take until the 30th minute for anything meaningful to occur.
In fact it would be two chances in quick succession for the visitors, Jamie Austin shooting over from close range before Scott Ruthven sent a half volley wide of the upright.
New Sils man Cody Cromack appears to have adjusted to life quickly at Keighley Road and his 40-yard effort looked destined for the top corner were it not for the acrobatics of Hallam’s Hugo Warhurst.
Silsden headed into the break with the lead, but on the hour mark, their advantage would be under threat after Smith received his marching orders for time wasting.
Despite the man advantage, there was little the Countrymen could do to stop the brilliance and determination of Casey Stewart.
The winger picked up the ball on the left wing, twisted and turned his way into the box and beyond 3 defenders before squaring to Hudson to rifle home our second.
Hallam were keen to look for a way back into the game however and they halved the deficit with ten minutes to go after Watson headed home a Daniel Pudil cross.
As the pressure continued to mount, we were forced to hold on, Kyle Trenerry holding onto a powerful snapshot whilst new signing Lewis Hey was called upon to make a crucial defensive block late on.
There was time for one late Silsden chance when substitute Hey found space in the box only for Warhurst to narrow the angle and tip over smartly.
Not an easy win in the end but one that could be crucial come the end of the season for Sils. We move up to 7th in the table with 12 points from our 7 games so far.
Up next we welcome Pickering Town to the Office Interiors Stadium on Saturday 9th September.
