MATCH DETAILS
Silsden AFC 4-3 Penistone Church
NCEL Premier Division
Saturday 30th March 2024
Office Interiors Stadium – Att: 231
TEAM DETAILS
Rabone, Cromack, Barnes (Harris, 86’), Daly, Cassidy, Clayton, Brooksbank (Conteh, 87), Maltby, Price (Smith, 90), Thompson (Roper, 71), Stewart.
Subs: Gardner
MATCH REPORT
Silsden and Penistone Church played out a 7-goal thriller at the Office Interiors Stadium yesterday with the hosts coming out 4-3 winners.
In an action packed first half Nathan Keightley opened the scoring for Church before Kayle Price levelled with an indirect freekick inside the penalty area.
Despite going behind through former player Lennon O’Grady, the Cobbydaler’s hit back with two quick goals courtesy of Luke Brooksbank and Price to take a 3-2 lead into the break.
Again Keightley scored for the visitors to restore parity but moments later Price’s looping header secured both his hat-trick and the three points for Sils.
Church’s first attack of the game brought the first goal as Keightley found space inside the box before smashing home beyond Jay Rabone.
Controversy then struck on 10 minutes as Silsden were awarded a indirect freekick inside the box following a contentious ‘back pass’ picked up by the keeper.
Price stepped up to the rolled pass and fired a right-footed strike into the bottom corner through a crowd of bodies.
Penistone wasted no time in restoring their advantage.
Another former Cobbydaler Ant Brown saw his initial effort saved before O’Grady was able to force home from close range on the rebound.
A quick throw in proved fruitful for Sils on 35 minutes, ending with Brooksbank finding a half-yard in the penalty area before turning smartly and placing the ball in the corner.
The turn around was complete just minutes later.
Brooksbank and Jake Maltby combining well with the latter’s deflected effort falling to Price who added his second with a well-placed finish.
After the interval Church looked for a way back into the game and they would equalise on 63 minutes.
A long goal kick was misjudged by Rabone who spilt into Keightley’s path to rifle home into an empty net.
Once again an almost instant goal restored the Cobbydaler’s lead.
A recycled corner ended up at the feet of Brooksbank whose pinpoint delivery was met by the head of Price to loop the ball magnificently into the far corner.
Silsden had some defending to do late on and both Ross Daly and Adam Clayton showed their experience with Daly making a fantastic clearance in his own six yard box before Clayton’s superbly timed sliding challenge denied Brown a scoring opportunity.
Whilst the playoffs now look a forgone conclusion for both sides, it was a great game of football from the two sides, with Silsden moving up to 10th whilst Church remain 7th.
Up next for the Cobbydalers is the visit of Bottesford this Tuesday.
