Hallmark Secuity League Division One: Silsden 2 Bacup Borough 1

Silsden came from behind at half-time to secure a much-needed victory on Boxing Day.

The Cobbydalers went three points clear of their visitors with three games in hand after winning a match which was heavily influenced by a strong wind blowing towards the clubhouse.

Bacup had the advantage in the first half and almost took the lead in the first minute. James Constantine’s in-swinging corner was headed goalwards and Danny Vincent cleared off the line.

The Borough players screamed for a penalty as the ball appeared to strike Vincent on the arm but the officials deemed otherwise. The visitors were awarded another corner which cleared the Silsden bar.

Bacup went close again, with Anthony Hall driving in a free-kick, which was chested wide. Silsden were restricted to the odd attack, with Will Storrie and Chris Wademan both trying to break through against the wind.

Another attack up the left saw Storrie sliding the ball across to Mark Trueman, who released Matty Moses on the right but the Bacup defence closed ranks to snuff out the attack.

The Cobbydalers were pushed back but held firm until the 21st minute when Ryan Humphries volleyed home.

Silsden were battling against the elements as Bacup attempted to double their lead. Sam Jacomb headed one cross off the goal-line for a corner, which Tom Halligan headed over the Silsden bar.

The hosts almost notched an equaliser ten minutes before the break when Storrie and Wademan worked the ball behind the Bacup defence. Tom Henderson chased for the ball but keeper Aaron Ashley smothered it.

Immediately the visitors broke forwards. Jacomb sliced a clearance into the path of Humphries, who blasted his effort over the bar.

Going in 1-0 down the Cobbydalers thought they had weathered the storm and so it proved as they came back with two second-half goals.

From the kick-off, Trueman shot over the Borough bar and, after Wademan’s mazy run, Stuart Craig managed to take the pace off the ball at the expense of a corner. Just as the visitors had profited from a corner from the left, so did the Cobbydalers.

Hancock curled the ball in to the box, Jacomb headed goalwards and Henderson slid the ball over the line on 53 minutes for the equaliser. Seven minutes later Storrie put Silsden into the lead from another Hancock corner.

Henderson, who had led the front line intelligently, was replaced by Ben Cox. He joined Sam Busfield, who had replaced debutant Sam Hillhouse, off the bench. The two substitutes took a while to settle, allowing the visitors to build from the back too easily.

However, Josh Kaine and his defence stood firm. Trueman’s effort from a Hancock cross was off target as Silsden tried to kill the game off but they couldn’t get a third.

In the dying minutes the Cobbydalers had to clear off their line twice as the visitors threw caution to the wind.

In the end, it was the wind that was key with three assists. This was not a classic but a vital three points as Silsden head to Atherton LR on Saturday.

SILSDEN: Jakovlevs, Moses, Vincent (Foulds 86), Kaine, Jacomb, Trueman, Storrie, Hancock, Henderson (Cox 70), Wademan, Hillhouse (Busfield 70) Subs not used Storton, Forrest.

BACUP BOROUGH: Ashley, Craig, Simm, Halligan, Bellamy, Rutter, Emery, Constantine, Humphries Hall, Garvin Subs Butorins, Close, O’Malley, Rhodes, Broderick.