Silsden 4 New Mills 0

THE Cobbydalers made a statement of intent to their Division One title rivals as they eased to a comfortable win at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium on Saturday.

Without Niall Sultan (injured) and both Kyle Hancock and Danny Illingworth suspended, Mark Everingham and Matty Tomas were named in the starting line-up.

Everingham, a regular left back before being injured in December, had been unable to get his place back with Reece Kendall, his replacement, making the most of his spot in the starting eleven.

To say he was fired up would be an under-statement. In the opening five minutes his pace and touch on the right wing brought a number of chances. From one, Chris Wademan saw his shot pushed for a corner by Oliver Martin.

A minute later, Kendall hit the bar with a header. Further chance saw Aidan Kirby and Kendall go close before Silsden went ahead.

Kirby freed Wademan, who cut in from the edge of the penalty area to slide the ball home.

Everingham then sped in from the right before hitting the near post with a low drive.

The second goal followed when Arley Barned got the final touch to head the ball home.

Kirby was a threat every time he got the ball, and was unlucky to see a low shot shave a post.

The Millers’ first attack, midway through the half, ended with Jake Pollard slicing a cross over the bar.

New Mills came more into the game before Silsden extended their lead.

Luke Rhodes slid the ball to Barnes who ran towards the keeper.

Martin managed to block the shot but Wademan made no mistake from the rebound.

Rhodes was dominating the midfield, breaking up any chance of a counter attack, before releasing the forwards.

Kirby went close again before Moses was halted by a foul on the edge of the Millers’ area.

The tempo was maintained with Silsden starting the second half with four corners in five minutes.

The closest they came to scoring was when Barnes’ curling effort was headed for a corner.

Wademan managed to dribble through the defence but was denied his hat-trick by the legs of Martin.

Minutes later Kirby set him up again, only for the keeper Martin saved with his feet.

Kaine thought he had got the fourth but it was ruled out for an infringement, before Wademan hit a shot over the bar.

The pace and pressure never let up, Rhodes saw to that! Craig Bentham and Kaine were supreme at the back.

Finally, with two more games to follow in the week, Danny Forrest made a change, Arron Davis replacing Tomas.

Kendall, having received possession from Callum Jakovlevs, sent a fast ball up the wing to Davis who then crossed to Kirby, to fire home the fourth seven minutes from time.

The Cobbydalers last scored more than two on January 6. The victory made a statement of intent.

The pace and pressure paid off and a bonus for the Cobbydalers was Whitchurch Alport's 4-3 defeat at Holker Old Boys.

SILSDEN AFC Jacovlevs, Moses, Kendall, Kaine, Bentham, Rhodes, Barnes, Tomas(Davis 71), Wademan, Kirby, Everingham(Hargreaves 80) Subs not used. Storton, Lee, Forrest.

NEW MILLS AFC Martin, Rothwell, Jones, Milne, Armstrong, Miller, Pendlebury, McConnell, Driver, Kirk, Pollard

(Ramwell 80). Subs Lofthouse, Kay, Rigby.