NORTHERN Counties East League Premier Division table-toppers North Ferriby proved too strong for Silsden on Saturday afternoon, recording an impressive 5-0 win over the West Yorkshire side at The Dransfield Stadium.

The hosts took a first half lead through an Ant Brown own goal, before a hat-trick from Danny Earl, as well as a T’Nique Fishley strike, gave The Villagers a comfortable victory.

A lacklustre Silsden never really got going and were it not for returning keeper Kyle Welsh, the scoreline would have been much more emphatic.

Kyle Hancock’s second half sending off only added to a miserable day for the Cobbydalers.

But Joe Crosby almost got the visitors off to a perfect start when his dangerous cross looped towards Jack Normanton at the back post.

The former Brighouse man was unable to apply the finishing touch to the move, and that missed chance soon proved costly.

North Ferriby took the lead as a result of a long throw, with Brown unfortunate to head the ball beyond his own keeper as he tried to clear it away.

The goal sparked the visitors into life, as new signing Normanton first sent a curling effort into the gloves of North Ferriby keeper Lewis Exall, before bending a free kick wide of the right-hand post.

After the break, the game took on a totally different complexion however.

On 55 minutes, a Villagers corner initially rattled the crossbar before full-back Fisher was first on the scene to rifle the ball into the net and double the home side's advantage.

Normanton looked to pull one back for Silsden when he raced on to a Hancock through ball, only for Exall to rush off his line and make an impressive clearance.

Just minutes later, Earl grabbed North Ferriby's third goal with a wonderful solo effort.

He dribbled the ball past both Harry Thompson and Carlton Pownall before lifting a wonderful effort into the far corner for 3-0.

The hosts continued to push forward, with Amir Berchil sending an effort wide and Earl putting a gilt-edged chance over the crossbar.

Welsh was called into action to deny Earl once again on 70 minutes but he could do little to stop the forward's next opportunity.

A little bit of luck allowed the former Billingham Town man through on goal and he made no mistake to delicately lob the ball over the onrushing keeper.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors as captain Hancock was sent off for a second yellow card following a late sliding challenge in the 84th minute.

Their misery was compounded as Earl completed his hat-trick with a simple tap-in just a minute later.

A second defeat in a row for Silsden puts them down to seventh in the table, with their early promotion hopes slowly slipping further away from them after positive results for other high-flying sides in the division.

There is a chance for The Cobbydalers to put things right this weekend, as they host Bradford District rivals Thackley at the Office Interiors Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off at 3pm.