The Hallmark League Premier Division 2018-19
Saturday 29th December, 2018
LITHERLAND REMYCA 0 v 2 SILSDEN AFC
Att. 62. Illingworth 19, Sorhaindo 45.
COBBYDALERS END THE YEAR WITH A WIN
The Cobbydalers travelled to Merseyside for their final game of 2018. After their promotion to the Premier Division, they had made an excellent start before sliding down the table after a poor two months. They started the day in the bottom half of the table. Manager Danny Forrest, in his pre-match interview, said that he wanted the team to play with more freedom and enjoyment, without fear, just as they had at the start of the season. He got a positive response. It wasn’t quite the beautiful game but that wasn’t the fault of the players.
Litherland play at a Council-owned sports club, where the staff had an extended holiday break. The match started a 1pm to suit the two staff who had volunteered to work on the afternoon. The pitch had been marked out by the clubs members but it had not been rolled and was in a poor condition. (The club are hoping to move before season 2020-21). The atmosphere at the game was lacking, as the sparse crowd were spread outside an athletics track!
The Cobbydalers, facing a strong wind, started brightly. Aidan Kirby latched onto an error by the keeper before his shot was blocked. Then Stephen King deflected Joe Mitchell’s low shot for a corner. Luke Rhodes released Niall Sultan who crossed to Kirby. The striker’s header was saved by Ben Morrow.
REMYCA broke down the right but Matty Moses made a good block before Jacovlevs sliced Dan Illingworth’s back-pass for a corner. Ryan Dobson headed wide. Silsden took the lead on nineteen minutes when Laurence Sorhaindo headed down a Sultan free kick and Dan ILLINGWORTH blasted the ball home.
Two minutes later Kirby’s back-heel sent Will Storrie clear. He crossed to Sorhaindo who saw his effort clear the far post. The chances kept coming and Silsden took control but a second goal wouldn’t come. Josh Kaine foiled a break away before REMYCA thought they had equalised but Lennon Whewell was offside.
Silsden continued to create openings but the run of the ball was unpredictable. They defended well against the strong wind, with skipper Kaine once again always one step ahead of his opponents. In the dying minutes of the half, REMYCA had two great chances. Josh Hamilton fed Dylan Scott, who had his shot saved for a corner, before Stephen King headed over the bar. Storrie latched onto the resulting goal kick, sped forwards and shot from the right. His effort was deflected to SORHAINDO who netted to make it two-nil at the break.
The wind died down as the second half began, as REMYCA enjoyed a period of possession, without creating an opening. In fact Kirby had the best effort but his shot cleared the bar. Neither side could create a clear chance. Silsden were content to protect their lead and the Merseysiders, for all their possession, lacked a killer ball. At the other end, Illingworth managed to get the better of Whewell on one occasion but Morrow saved comfortably.
The game petered out as the heavy pitch took its toll. Rhodes hit the post with a curler, Sultan hit a free kick over the bar and Ainscough went close, whist Paul Foy went closest for the home side.
Silsden ended the calendar year in the top half of the table. It’s been a testing first half of the season with 34 games played (24 in the league). With one match abandoned to be replayed, there are only 15 to play in the next four months! Silsden begin the year with consecutive home games against Whitchurch Alport on Jan. 5th and Abbey Hey on Jan 12th. The fans will be hoping for a good start to 2019!
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
LITHERLAND REMYCA. Morrow, Connor, Murphy (Jones 65), Dobson, King, Scott, Hamilton, Crist, Whewell, Quirk, Morris (Foy 59). Subs. not used. McShane, Tyson, Colbourn,
SILSDEN AFC. Jakovlevs, Moses, Everingham, Kaine, Illingworth, Rhodes, Storrie (Ainscough70), Mitchell, Sorhaindo (Gaughan 61), Kirkby, Sultan. Subs not used. Lee, Forrest.
Referee Mr. O. Noonan. Assistants. Mr. M. Johnson, Mr. G. Williams.
Photo courtesy of Nick Gerrard
