MATCH DETAILS
Silsden AFC 2-0 Atherton Collieries
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 17th August 2024
The Regal Interiors Stadium – Att: 172
TEAM DETAILS
Bradbury, Cromack, Kilner, Daly, Coates, Clark, Hudson (Greaves, 83′), Conteh, Price, Brooksbank (Thompson, 86′), Stewart (Connolly, 78′).
Subs: Hunt, Haigh, Stockdill
MATCH REPORT
For the first time in 20 years, Silsden progressed to the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round following a 2-0 win over Atherton Collieries at the Regal Interiors Stadium earlier today.
After an end-to-end first half, The Cobbydaler’s scored two quick goals early on in the second through Kayle Price and Casey Stewart.
Despite some late chances for the visiting Northern Premier League West side, we were able to hold out and secure our place in the next round.
The first decent opportunity of the game fell the way of Stewart on 10 minutes with the left winger battling his way into the penalty area before hitting a curling effort wide of the far post.
Atherton looked to have opened the scoring just after the half hour mark when a corner was forced home, luckily there was a let off for Sils as the linesman already had his flag up to chalk off the goal.
Coll’s winger Joe Adam’s wasn’t far away with his effort moments later either after we lost the ball in midfield and the number 7 drove forward before shooting high over the top from the edge of the area.
Silsden wasted little time in taking the lead after the halftime whistle.
With the visitors looking to attack, we nipped in and sent a long ball towards Luke Brooksbank who cut back to Price to score his fifth goal in the opening six games of the season.
Things got even better just five minutes later, Price turning provider this time for Stewart with a perfectly weighted through ball.
Stewart raced onto the pass finding himself 1v1 with the keeper and despite Ellis Litherland making the initial save, he was able to sweep home the rebound for 2-0.
Brooksbank had the opportunity to add a third on the hour, when another quick Sils break allowed him space to hit a shot that was tipped behind well by Litherland.
The visitor’s weren’t without their own opportunities however, both Lewis Mansell and Pa Babou Jenkins going close with volleyed efforts.
Sil’s keeper Callum Bradbury provided the goalkeeping heroics late on with a superb diving save to deny Mansell at close range and preserve the clean sheet.
There were two late chances for Tom Greaves to add further gloss to the scoreline but Litherland was on hand to keep things respectable for the visiting Colls.
The result sees us into the 1st Qualifying Round for the first time since our maiden FA Cup campaign all the way back in the 2004/2005 season.
The draw has yet to be made for the next round, the game will be played on 31st August.
