Silsden AFC 1 AFC Blackpool 0

SILSDEN made it ten wins out of ten as they extended their 100 per cent record at the summit of the North West Counties League Division One table in an extremely scrappy affair.

The Cobbydalers started the brighter side as the visitors couldn't deal with right winger Niall Sultan's trickery and pace down the right.

The first major opportunity came when Sultan beat two men before cutting inside, his left-foot effort drifting just wide. His persistence paid off, however, after a similar mazy run resulted in a dangerous ball being fizzed across the face of the goal and was turned into the Blackpool net by their stretching centre half.

The half turned feisty towards the break, with Matthew Moses and Kyle Hancock both cautioned for reckless challenges.

The second half saw the visitors show more intent, as they applied huge pressure on the Silsden defence. The home side did have their chances to put the game beyond doubt, though. Joe Gaughan drove forward, but saw his left-footed drive sail narrowly wide. Hancock also spurned a great chance as his effort was saved comfortably.

Silsden were handed a scare late on as Dan Illingworth received his marching orders. The defender made a clumsy late challenge to receive his second yellow card.

Blackpool huffed and puffed, and were nearly rewarded with a point late on, when a superb curling effort on the edge of the Silsden area drifted narrowly over.

Danny Forrest's men hung on, however, to make it an impressive 30 points from 30.

He said: "I feel we could have played better tonight, but we ground a result out.

"I'm content, but the main thing is to keep this exciting journey going."