Silsden 2 Maine Road 3

THE Cobbydalers scored the quickest goal of the new North West Counties Premier League season but, having taken the lead twice, they ended up losing by the odd goal in five.

Only a magnificent save from Maine Road keeper Ryan Livesey in the 89th minute prevented Silsden from claiming at least one point.

Maine Road had the first attack but it was Silsden who took the lead after four minutes. Right back Matty Moses hit a long ball up the right to Chris Wademan. He sped past Callum Jones and drove the ball in to the Road box. James Flynn cleared it but only to Moses again. The Road defence couldn't deal with it and Daniel Haworth drove it home from 12 yards out.

Road pushed forward but the 16th-minute equaliser only came as the result of a moment of madness from Moses who raised his hand in the penalty area to deflect a cross wide. Connor Hughes coolly dinked the penalty over the diving Danny Thorpe.

Silsden responded immediately with Josh Brown unable to get enough on a corner from the right. A minute later the young Silsden centre back hit the bar with another header.

Neither side could dominate with Road relying on balls threaded through the middle which often ran on to Thorpe. Silsden's best outlet seemed to be Wademan, whose pace troubled the visitors' defence. Wademan's mazy dribble saw him slip past two defenders before he was upended in the penalty area. Mitchell drove the ball into the bottom corner to restore Silsden's lead. Unfortunately, it lasted just three minutes.

Both full backs had been asked to break forwards when the opportunity arose but, without midfielders dropping back, Kevin Ryan and Brown were often exposed.

Silsden's left back, Jonson Butterfield, lost possession wide on the left two yards into his own half. Road broke forwards with Jack Brooks in chase.

Jordan Rutter outpaced him and crossed for Hughes to add his second with a powerful drive, with three Silsden defenders looking on.

The second half saw Silsden attacking from the off but they tended to try to play through the middle of the park rather than trying to stretch the play.

The visitors' third came after 53 minutes when Thorpe could only get a weak punch to an inswinging corner from the right and Josh Harper scrambled the ball home from close range.

Silsden pushed forwards without midfielders dropping back when others burst forwards and Brown was exposed twice, on both occasions making excellent recovery tackles.

Butterfield put in a tempting cross at the other end but it was clear that changes were needed. Talent Ndlovu came on for Steven Smith and Kieron Turner for Craig Nicholls, a brave move but it hadn't been last season's top-scorer's day.

Ndlovu slotted into midfield from where he never wasted possession.

When Wademan beat three men he was fouled on the edge of the box but Ndlovu's free-kick went narrowly over.

Mitchell drove wide of the far post and Wademan continued to pose a threat.

Turner provided more physical presence up front and as the defence was pushed back. Jack Brooks dived to head Wademan's cross home from close range. It had goal written all over it but Livesey tipped it over.

With the game going into stoppage time, Livesey made a brave save at the feet of Turner to ensure the points went to the Sky Blues.

Joint-manager Danny Bolton said: “We were denied a point by a world-class save. Myself and Ryan (Haigh) were both pleased with the start we made but we took our foot off the gas and let Maine Road back into the game."

Silsden visit Darwen in the league on Wednesday before hosting West Allotment Celtic, who play in Northern League Division One, in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Silsden: Thorpe, Moses, Butterfield, Brown, Ryan, Mitchell, Haworth, Brooks, Nicholls(Turner 53), Wademan, Smith(Ndlovu 63). Subs not used: Guilfoyle, Dunne, Turner.