Silsden 1 Runcorn Linnets 3

SILSDEN'S bid to escape relegation took another blow last Saturday as they were beaten by the leaders and dropped to second from bottom as Alsager Town leapfrogged them with a 1-0 win at home to Bootle.

In a game played in blustery conditions, chances were few and far between early on.

Both sides were denied decent penalty shouts when Linnets striker Ryan Cox went down under Kyle Harrison’s challenge and later when Danny Forrest was tripped by River Humphries in the visitors box.

The warning signs were there though from Runcorn, particularly the set-piece delivery from wide man Kurt Sherlock.

Tempers frayed as both sets of players struggled to deal with the wind and, in the 36th minute, Humphries was cautioned for his aggressive handling of Forrest, who had been booked for an earlier indiscretion.

The deadlock was broken in the last minute of the half following a corner on the right from Sherlock, whose slightly lower, precision delivery found the untracked run of central defender Michael White, who powered home a header.

But the Cobbydalers almost levelled in the first minute of added time following good interplay down the right between Kyle Hancock and Forrest. The ball found Josh McNulty on the edge of the box and his cleverly guided left-foot shot found its way through a ruck of defenders and beat Dean Porter’s dive only to see it strike the far post and rebound into the grateful custodian’s arms.

In the second period Runcorn made the perfect start when Silsden conceded a free-kick out wide on the left. That man Sherlock’s curling delivery found Freddie Potter’s untracked diagonal run and he expertly diverted the ball into the far corner to make it 2-0.

In the 64th minute Hancock let fly from distance but Porter’s initial fumble was safely gathered at the second attempt. Minutes later McNulty’s clever give and go was halted amid half-hearted appeals for a penalty which came to nought.

Disaster struck for Silsden when, amid deteriorating weather conditions, Forrest’s attempted cross-field ball sliced onto the wind and towards the home box causing confusion. Mis-communication in the Silsden defence saw Potter's initial air-shot followed up by a curling effort into the top corner to make it a flattering 3-0 to the Linnets.

Silsden hit back almost immediately when a long ball out right to Hancock two minutes later was smashed into the far top corner from fully 30 yards to reduce the deficit.

Potter had a chance to restore Linnets’ three-goal cushion but skewed wide with Hall rooted to his line.

With just four minutes remaining Michael Simpson made a fine run down the right and intelligently pulled the ball back to Cox, who sliced wide with the goal gaping.

Silsden hope to revive their survival bid at home to neighbours Colne this afternoon.

Silsden: Hall, Brooks, Cattermole (Kershaw), Harrison, Bonaminio, Mitchell (c), Hancock, Hill (Longley), Forrest, Wademan, McNulty (Henderson).