Silsden 1 Bacup & Rossendale Borough 1

THE COBBYDALERS needed a penalty in injury-time to save their blushes after bottom side Bacup had taken the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Boro didn’t look like a team with only nine points in the opening half when they posed problems for Silsden, who were well off the pace.

The hosts almost netted the opener on five minutes when Danny Fagan headed a corner downwards but Simon Thompson flicked the ball off the line.

At the other end Michael Gervin broke through challenges from Michael Morrison and Andy Hill before shooting too high.

Joe Mitchell denied Thompson after Boro had created their best opening of the period before Moses denied Gervin with a superb tackle.

In the dying stages of the half, Thompson was forced out to the corner flag on the right. His sliced cross fooled keeper Danny Thorpe to give the visitors an unexpected lead.

Silsden showed more intent in the second half but Boro defended well. Ben Lamb headed wide and keeper Josh Harris denied Ben Crabtree after an excellent one-two with Josh McNulty.

Twenty minutes from time Grimes turned swiftly in the box but Harris made an excellent save.

Time was up when Nicholls finally broke through but Harris made another save.

Finally Silsden’s chance came three minutes into stoppage time. Sub Chris Wademan broke into the Bacup area and was tripped. Nicholls drove the spot-kick into the bottom corner to give the Cobbydalers a share of the points.

On Saturday, Silsden travel to fourth-placed 1874 Northwich.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Moses, Crabtree, Fagan (Moore 83), Lamb, Hill (Wademan 69), Morrison, Grimes, McNulty (Riley 73), Nicholls.