Alsager Town 1 Silsden 2

TWO goals in stoppage time saw ten-man Silsden secure an amazing victory in their North West Counties Football League Premier Division game at Alsager.

The Cobbydalers had lost Lee Guilfoyle just before half-time. He was sent off after being adjudged to have prevented a goal-scoring opportunity when he got into a tangle with Alsager's Jordan Southwell.

Silsden joint managers Danny Bolton and Ryan Haigh hadn't been happy about their team's inability to “keep the ball” in the opening half, although the Cobbydalers did create three good chances before the break.

On ten minutes, Chris Wademan picked up a short pass before hitting a rasping right-footer which Alsager keeper Burzynski tipped over the bar.

Fifteen minutes later Craig Nicholls took a pass from Matty Moses and hit a screamer just over the bar. But the best chance fell to Martin Broderick.

A short pass to the by-line saw Wademan cut the ball across the face of the goal and Broderick was inches away from tapping it home.

The Bullets had created several good chances, particular from the right where the pace of Jon Crane and the overlapping of Bradley Taberner caused problems.

Alsager's best efforts came from Taberner and Mannion, but too often the forwards were caught offside.

With Silsden losing Guilfoyle three minutes before the interval, the second half was basically a game of “defence versus attack”.

Early on, John Main broke past Kevin Ryan, but shot wide of the far post. Thorpe saved well from Taberner, but Jack Brooks and Broderick both put their bodies in the line of fire to defend their goal.

Skipper Joe Mitchell covered the whole of the Silsden half to break up attack after attack from the Bullets.

With twenty minutes left, Southwell got through to slide the ball under the diving Thorpe to give Alsager the hope of their first three points of the season.

The home side increased the pressure as the game went into stoppage time.

With the clock ticking, Silsden levelled with a magnificent solo effort from Wademan.

Picking up the ball 25 yards out he drifted past four defenders and, with Burzinski coming off his line, slid the ball under the Alsager keeper to level.

It looked like Silsden had salvaged a point. But there was still time for more drama.

The Cobbydalers' Danny Thorpe launched the ball forward to substitute Zack Dale, just back from a long-term injury.

Dale outpaced George Mannion to reach the ball before Burzynski and volleyed it into the empty net to give Silsden the three points.