Silsden 2 Runcorn Town 1

THE Cobbydalers banked a rare win against Runcorn but they needed to stay focused to get over the line in an all-action North West Counties top-tier clash.

It was Silsden’s fifth straight victory and keeps them sixth in the table.

Josh McNulty gave the home side a first-half lead when he headed Matt Moses’ cross into the top corner just before the half-hour mark. Their second goal was a good finish to end a superb counter-attack. Joe Mitchell released substitute Craig Nichols and his low centre was slotted in by Robert Grimes.

The visitors never wavered and they had the home side under pressure late on. Joe Irlam halved the deficit eight minutes from time and had a later effort headed off the line by Owen Deakin-Pickard.

Cobbydalers spokesman Jim Rosser said: “Our last defeat was at their place and they certainly made it hard for us here, especially towards the end. But with Ben Crabtree suspended for one game, Ben Lamb and Kev Ryan were superb at the back. That was until Kev went off with a hip injury, so that could be a problem for us.”