Silsden battered by hot-shot Battersby (From Keighley News)

Silsden battered by hot-shot Battersby

8:50am Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport By Sportsdesk

Silsden 1 Glossop North End 5

The Cobbydalers suffered at the hands of the impressive Mark Battersby, who scored four to move above Silsden’s Mike Garrod in the division’s leading scorers list.

Silsden’s defence had no answer to the pace and perception of the former Bolton Wanderers youngster, who has won both the league’s player of the month award and Glossop fans’ monthly accolade since joining the Hillmen last September.

He scored 15 goals in his first 11 games and was at his most prolific last Saturday to put the hosts to the sword.

The Cobbydalers never gave up and, with a bit more luck, might have notched more goals themselves.

Scott Hanson partnered Danny Husband at the heart of the defence, with Jake McEneaney returning to his left back role.

While individuals defended well at times, collectively the team helped the visitors by playing a high line. Too often the back four were isolated due to the attacking urges of the team.

The Hillmen used the strong wind to their advantage in the opening half and only a superb clearance off the line by Husband saved the Cobbydalers from going one down in the opening minutes.

However, the opening goal soon came from an inswinging corner. Glossop skipper Kelvin Lugsden rose unchallenged to head goalwards and Husband deflected the ball over his keeper.

Hanson saw a header cleared off the Glossop line but a minute later the Hillmen doubled their lead. Battersby chased down a through-ball to the byline on the Silsden right. Keeper Ed Hall rushed out of the area but the striker curled the ball into the empty net.

Silsden responded with a passing move which saw Garrod’s low shot tipped round the post by Ben Proctor.

At the other end, Kevin Ryan cleared another effort off the line before Battersby made a well-timed run and rounded Hall to slide home the third on 27 minutes.

The Cobbydalers then enjoyed a purple patch. Chris Wademan’s mazy, cross-field run ended with him shooting narrowly wide. James Nanje-Ngoe and Joe Gaughan then combined to set up a half-chance for Matthew Moses, who saw his shot blocked by Sean Hazelden.

A goal just before the break would have lifted Silsden and it needed a superb tackle by Lugsden on Ryan to prevent them doing so.

The hosts started the second half in positive mood but, after Hall had saved well from Sam Marshall, Battersby took advantage of a lack of concentration in the home defence to break from the halfway line and convert for his hat-trick after 50 minutes.

Gaughan began to exert an influence but his two efforts were wide of the target. Strong challenges from Husband and Hanson kept the visitors at bay and Wademan went close following a superb cross-field ball from Scott Price.

Unfortunately, Battersby was not finished. The Cobbydalers defended well but the goal machine managed to gain a slight advantage to net a ball from the right.

Wademan drove the ball home for a consolation goal with three minutes to go after an astute pass from sub Dan Stubberfield.

The Cobbydalers didn’t drop their heads and, but for Battersby, the visitors might have had to work harder for their victory. Silsden travel to in-form Run-corn Linnets on Saturday.

SILSDEN: Hall, Moses, McEneaney (Rosser 88), Hanson, Husband, Nanje-Ngoe (Price 60), Bryan (Stubberfield 60), Gaughan, Garrod, Ryan, Wademan.