SILSDEN will not have it easy when they return to action at in-form FC Oswestry Town following a blank weekend.

The Cobbydalers were kicking their heels after their scheduled Division One clash at Bacup Borough was one of only two games off in the Hallmark Security North West Counties League.

Bacup's pitch is prone to flooding, with the club having now had six postponements at home, but it still turned into a profitable day for Silsden as nearest challengers Litherland REMYCA were beaten 3-2 at Holker Old Boys, who had ended the leaders' 17-match winning streak last month.

That kept Danny Forrest's side 13 points clear at the summit, with fourth-placed Alsager Town also losing.

Saturday's opponents Oswestry are one of the division's form teams, having experienced one of the most remarkable turnarounds in fortune in recent weeks.

Town were marooned at the bottom after losing their first nine games and only picking up one win in the opening 13.

But a run of five straight wins was only ended by a last-gasp 4-3 defeat at Litherland last midweek and Town bounced back in fine style on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Eccleshall.

Forrest is hoping attacking player Mateusz Tomas could return from injury but Aaron Davis is still another two weeks away.

Saturday's trip will test Silsden's squad strength as leading goal-scorer Joe Gaughan and midfielder Kyle Hancock – who have both won player of the month awards in Silsden's incredible start – are suspended.

Oswestry play on a 4G artificial grass pitch, with Silsden's trip there last season ending in an amazing 6-6 draw as they recovered from a 4-3 deficit to score three late goals, only for the Shropshire hosts to score two in injury-time.