Garforth Town 3 Silsden 2

THE Cobbydalers missed a great opportunity to reach the semi-final of the County Cup for the first time through their inability to defend with enough resolution, gifting the Miners a goal either side of half-time.

Silsden pulled a goal back and were on top but further poor defending allowed Garforth to increase their lead before Ben Crabtree made it 3-2 on 71 minutes.

Town held on despite being put under pressure in the final 20 minutes.

The North West Counties League outfit had beaten Garforth earlier in the season in the FA Vase 3-1, Joe Jalil's super strike being the catalyst for the three goals in the final 20 minutes.

However, Jalil was responsible for the Miners doubling their just after the break after they had gone ahead in the 44th minute when Sinmi Oyenbanji curled the ball over the helpless Danny Thorpe.

The keeper had been in excellent form in a first half which lacked drama compared with the second, denying Oyebanji and Luke Mangham with excellent saves.

Silsden were up against it when Jalil was dispossessed midway in his own half and Oyebanji broke forwards to double Garforth's lead on 47 minutes. But three saves from Thorpe spurred the Cobbydalers into life.

A super run from the impressive Joe Mitchell saw Zack Dale force a corner. It was half-cleared to Matty Moses, who pushed it wide for Dale to curl over the Garforth keeper to make it 2-1 on 59 minutes.

Silsden came close to levelling but Danny Fagan and Josh Brown got in a tangle and Mangham restored Garforth's two-goal cushion soon afterwards.

Jalil almost pulled a goal back, chipping Hunter but Liam Smith headed off the line before Mitchell's shot was tipped over.

Yet the Cobbydalers persisted and reduced the deficit again when a low free-kick by Ben Crabtree fooled the Garforth rearguard with 20 minutes left.

Crabtree saw two further efforts tipped over by Hunter but, at the other end, Thorpe saved from substitute Mark Faraday and tipped Tawanda Rupere's final effort over the bar. Garforth moved into the semi-finals where they will play Harrogate Town.

This was a missed opportunity for the young Cobbydalers but they will take heart from the progress they have made this season.

On Saturday, Silsden travel to Squires Gate.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Moses, Crabtree, Brown, Fagan, Jalil, Wademan, Mitchell, Henderson, Dale (Deakin-Pickard 86), McNulty (Hill 45).