Silsden 0 Knaresborough Town 3

Silsden were dumped out of the County Cup by a Knaresborough side who had played much of the first period in their own half.

The Cobbydalers had the wind at their backs before the break and hit the woodwork twice but the visitors took full advantage of the conditions in the second half.

The Cobbydalers, who had fallen at the first hurdle in three earlier cup competitions this season, started positively with some slick passing but found it hard to penetrate a resolute defence.

A one-two between Silsden’s Matthew Moses and James Nanje-Ngoe saw the latter nudged off the ball in the Town area before Danny Husband’s deft header from a free-kick grazed the bar.

The hosts pressurised as Husband missed a clear opportunity minutes later while, at the other end, James Nettleton had to block Joel Freeston’s effort.

Silsden’s best chance came on 30 minutes when Nanje-Ngoe slid a ball though the middle for Danny Bryan, who dragged his shot wide.

Mike Garrod saw a shot ricochet off Ashley Atkinson’s chest and then Jack Rushworth saved Andy Lee’s low drive.

On the stroke of half-time, Silsden nearly took the lead when Danny McNulty hit a 30-yard effort which hit the bar and bounced down on to the goal-line.

Silsden had failed to make the most of the elements and Knaresborough took full advantage in the second half, although the home defenders were at fault for all the goals. The first came only four minutes in when Edward Hall failed to hold Ben Clayton’s shot and Freeston drove in the loose ball.

Four minutes later the tie looked beyond Silsden when Freeston broke through Husband’s ineffective challenge before sliding the ball wide of Hall.

The Cobbydalers tried to rally as Lee had a shot blocked by a stray arm. On another occasion it might have been a penalty. There was plenty of neat football but little penetration.

Both Lee and Jake McEneany had shots charged down, before Freeston completed his hat-trick. Ben Clayton swung over a cross from the right which Husband misjudged and the Knaresborough striker pulled away to coolly head home.

On Saturday the Cobbydalers – whose game at home to Runcorn Linnets last week was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch – host AFC Liverpool in the league.

SILSDEN: Hall, Moses, McEneaney, Nanje-Ngoe, Nettleton, Husband (Throup 81), Bryan, P Hanson (Holmes 69), Garrod, Lee, D McNulty (Dunn 69).

* Silsden winger Dale Feather, from Denholme, has reached the quarter-final stage of Samsung’s Win A Pro Contract competition. More than 5,000 players from across the country entered the event, with a deal at League One Swindon Town or Leyton Orient the incentive. Feather will now play in an 11-a-side match at Hyde FC on Sunday.