THE BUILDBASE FA VASE FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND 2018-19

Saturday 1^st September 2018

HARROGATE RAILWAY ATHLETIC 3 v 4 SILSDEN AFC                 

Lancaster 16, Barker 20, Hunter 55.                 Spires 11, 68, 80 (pen), Kirby 44.

     Att. 100.                                                                 

SPIRES HAT-TRICK SEES COBBYDALERS HOME

         The Cobbydalers made hard work of reaching the next round of the Buildbase FA Vase on Saturday against a plucky Harrogate Railway, eventually winning by the odd goal in seven. With Railway having a league record of one win and five defeats and the Cobbydalers winning four and drawing two, it looked like the odds were in favour of the visitors. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

         Railway attacked from the kick-off, with left-back Andy Sunley whipping in two deep crosses. Reece Kendall rose to head both clear before Dan Illingworth went close at the other end. Craig Bentham fed the ball to Jack Turnbull. The winger cut inside from the right, before crossing to SPIRES, who curled the ball into the bottom corner of Athletic’s net.

         Silsden were dominant. Will Storrie shot wide and Kyle Hancock’s effort cleared the bar, before Storrie cut in on the byline but the angle was too tight. Railway, with three players below five foot six, began to move the ball swiftly on the floor and the Cobbydalers defence was struggling. Frazer LANCASTER swivelled past Dan Illingworth and slid in the equaliser. Sam BARKER burst through a static back line to make it 2-1 after only twenty minutes. Hancock then gave the ball away and Michael Thomson chipped the advancing Lee, but his effort landed on the roof of the net.

         Harrogate worked hard to preserve their lead as the visitors began to gain the initiative. Both Storrie and Spires made forays into the penalty area but both were closed down. Luke Rhodes shot over and two efforts from Spires lacked power. Storrie then cut in from the right, weaving through the home defence. He was upended in the penalty area. KIRBY levelled the scores with the spot kick.

         Silsden started the second half with greater intensity, and there was some slick passing which led to openings for Hancock, Storrie, Kirby and Spires but Athletic managed to deny the visitors the lead.

         Ten minutes into the half Railway broke down the left. Kendall was out of position and Sean HUNTER cut in from the wing to make it 3-2. Silsden responded and chances came and went, before Matty Tomas slid the ball to Turnbull who fed SPIRES to make it 3-3

         The game swung this way and that before, ten minutes from time, Sean Hunter sped past Craig Bentham down the left and had only Sammy Lee to beat. The Silsden keeper came off his line and Hunter chipped him. It looked to be going in but, such is the sideways slope of the Station View ground, that it hit the far post.

         The ball was immediately moved up the pitch to the other end where Aidan Kirby twisted between two defenders before being brought down in the penalty area. Penalty! Kirby, the normal spot kick taker, picked up the ball and handed it to Lee Spires, who had already netted twice. SPIRES blasted it home for his eighth goal of the season.

         The game wasn’t quite over. Railway always looked dangerous against the Silsden rearguard, where Kaine, Illingworth and Bentham were far from their best. Arley Barnes came on for Spires and Silsden looked more balanced. Arron Davis came on for Turnbull. Immediately the substitute was injured in a two-footed lunge by Lewis Riley, who was dismissed. Davis went on to thread two balls through to Hancock, who was denied by two superb saves from Jacob Collier.

         A win is a win and Silsden march on to play Albion Sports away in the next round. Danny Forrest, although pleased with the result, reacted to conceding three goals with “It wasn’t good enough. I have rotated the players with two matches a week at present but several players were not at their best today”.

         The Cobbydaler entertain Chorlton and West Didsbury on Tuesday evening before travelling to Whitchurch Alport on Saturday.

HARROGATE RAILWAY. Collier, Sunley, Riley, Morris, Swales, Tonkinson, Smith, Thompson, Lancaster (Edmondson 81), Barker, Hunter. Subs not used. Whitehead, McCrum, Thompson, Nelson

SILSDEN AFC. Lee, Bentham, Kendall, Kaine, Illingworth, Rhodes, Turnbull (Davis 71), Hancock, Spires (Barnes 82), Kirby, Storrie (Tomas 56). Subs not used. Everingham, Lyndon.

                                                 Referee. Mr. J. Rhodes. Assistants. Mr. B. Przewiezlikowski & Mr J. Price.                                                         

PLAYER MOVEMENT | One in, one out as Turnbull joins and Jakovlevs moves on!

The club can this morning confirm the signing of versatile Chadderton player Jack Turnbull. Jack joins after a successful period at Chadderton where he finished the 2017/18 season in great form scoring 12 goals in the last 12 games. In the lead up to the 2018/19 campaign Jack was named Chadderton’s club captain and continued his goal scoring form with a hat trick versus AFC Liverpool earlier this month. Jack’s previous clubs also include Atherton LR and Northwich Victoria.

Welcome to our new look Silsden AFC website!

Here you will find information on all things Silsden AFC including everything you need to know regarding match days, our partners and sponsors, and information on our players and staff!

John you’ve had an affiliation with the club for a number of years, where did last season rank for you in your time here?

Last season was the best since Andy Geary took us up last time. Last season has to be the best, because we went up as champions with 103 points! This was a league and club record. A fantastic achievement.

You and Sean took the decision to give Danny his first managerial position, what is it about Danny that appealed to you?

A number of reasons, obviously Danny had experience of being a professional and playing at a higher level than previous managers we have had, and we felt he could bring another level of professionalism to the club. We had been in the doldrums too long it was time for a change, we saw Danny as the man to bring about that change. Sean, John and I interviewed Danny. It was very obvious that Danny wanted the same success for the club as us, we were all on the same page.

Danny’s attention to detail, the standards he sets for himself and his players, and also the respect the lads have for Danny as a player and now of course as a manager, we knew it was the right time for Danny to show what he is capable of if we gave him the backing that he requires.

Silsden Football Club and Danny are a perfect fit to fulfil Danny’s ambitions as well as our own.

What can the fans expect next season at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium, as we enter the NWCFL Premier Division?

The fans can expect much of the same as last year we have all been working hard through out the summer, some new experienced faces will be added the strengthen the squad for this seasons challenge.

Some ground improvements and improvements to the facilities are always going on, it’s always work in progress at Silsden we are continually looking at ways to take the team to a higher level.

Who was your footballing hero growing up? 

When I was growing up my cousin Ron Flowers was a full England international as well as being the captain of Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was part of the World Cup winning squad. We had some lovely family memories whenever he came to my aunties house I made sure I was there in Doncaster.

Later as a 13 year old being trained by Jack Charlton and Bobby Collins, and living 4 miles from Leeds I quickly became a Leeds fan, and season ticket holder later.

Billy Bremner was my hero then, now a days  Messi and Ronaldo just amaze me.

What is it about the club that makes it stand out above other local sides in the area?

Where do I start, there are so many but here goes.

The history of the club, the past and present committee, players and managers, the fact that we have been the highest ranked club in the area for many years.

Our facilities are the envy of all the clubs that come to visit us, and are second to none for miles around.

We were the first club to bring floodlit football to the area, now all the local leagues use our facilities to play their finals.

The “pathway strategy” for our young players to progress from junior level right through to senior level is something no other club have in the area something which we are very proud of.

Our junior six aside competition is the largest in the North, over 150 teams compete over 2 days in June, the pro club scouts regard this as the number one tournament their attendance tells its own story.

I also think  as we are seeing other local clubs are following our example, and how we do it, tells us we must be doing it right. It’s a great compliment to see other clubs attempting to emulate ideas Danny and the team have behind the scenes. It can only do good for local football.