Silsden 1 AFC Liverpool 0

THE COBBYDALERS finally got back to winning ways with a goal from Chris Wademan, backed up by a sound defensive performance which denied the visitors a clear opening.

AFC Liverpool, who sat one place above Silsden before the table start of play, had scored 23 more goals than their hosts although they were without leading scorer Ronnie Morgan.

The home side were without Aaron Hollindrake, Andy Lee, Josh McNulty and talisman Kevin Ryan, whom boss Ryan Haigh hopes will be fit this weekend. Without a recognised target man, Haigh was reliant on the team playing the ball on the floor. With only one goal in the last five games, he was also dependent on keeping another clean sheet.

Silsden started positively as Dale Feather slid the ball to Craig Nicholls, whose fierce shot was well saved by Ryan Nield.

Defences were on top until, on 20 minutes, Liverpool broke out after a poor cross from Joe Mitchell. Nicholls ran the length of the field to regain possession.

When Liverpool's Ryan Cox broke through, only a magnificent tackle by Danny Fagan denied a clear scoring opportunity before the Cobbydalers took the lead on 29 minutes. Feather sent Nicholls free on the right and his low cross from the by-line was hit home by Chris Wademan under pressure from Kieran Mills and Nield.

Only a parry from Nield prevented Nicholls from adding to the lead after Wademan had flicked the ball though.

The visitors had the wind at their backs in the second half but, although they had more possession, they were denied time and time again by the Cobbydalers defence.

Joel Richards drove the ball across to Cox, who went close, before strike partner Francis Berry curled a shot wide. Sinnott and Steven Williams also sliced shots off target.

At the other end, Silsden finally created a chance of their own. A long ball from Ben Crabtree found Wademan breaking up the middle, but under pressure from Mills, his shot hit the side netting as Nield forced him wide.

Wademan had a golden chance to settle the result after Feather drew Mills and played him in. Nield rushed out but the Silsden scorer took the ball too wide and the chance was lost.

It didn't affect the outcome though as Haigh gained his first victory in charge. He said: “I was delighted with the effort, especially when the squad was depleted.

"The back four were magnificent with Danny(Fagan)) and Ben (Lamb) dominant. Both full backs, Matty Moses and Crabtree have matured and were solid in defence and always looked to mount breaks forwards.

"The tactics worked really well, with the high-scoring visitors being denied clear opportunities."

This Saturday the Cobbydalers host West Didsbury and Chorlton.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Moses, Crabtree, Mitchell, Fagan, Lamb, Jalil, Moore, Wademan, Nicholls (Brown 87), Feather.