Airey and Everard stem the tide in losing cause

3:19pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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Runcorn Linnets 1 Silsden 0

The Cobbydalers' poor run continued with another one-goal margin defeat at the hands of Runcorn Linnets on Saturday.

The Cobbydalers could count themselves fortunate to have only conceded one goal such was the dominance of the Linnets in the opening period. A string of excellent saves from Matthew Everard and an outstanding performance by Shaun Airey were major factors in preventing the Linnets from adding to their early lead.

With Martin Foulger, Martin Bland, Danny McNulty and James Nettleton unfit and Mark Bentham and Michael Rhodes unavailable it was Airey who took on the John Terry role. He was dominant in the air and quick to spot any signs of danger giving confidence to debutants Arley Barnes and James Dunne who both slotted into the side with ease.

The main danger to the Cobbydalers came from Adrian Orr who gave Liam King at right back a torrid time. King, lacking protection from the midfield was often exposed by the winger's pace. Time and time again Orr cut inside the full back or sped to the byline to set up chances for his forwards who found Silsden keeper Everard in majestic form.

Orr's sliced shot in the opening minute was followed by Airey's excellent tackle on Vinnie Braine and Barnes' interception of James McMullen's deep cross. Although Orr was instrumental in the opening goal his own shot was mishit, fortuitously into the path of Braine who beat the keeper from ten yards.

Reilly missed a couple of chances and at the other end Everard made a triple save tipping Orr's shot onto the bar before denying Robert Brocklehurst and Michael Young. Joe McKane's long-range free kick was well held but when Brocklehurst got through the keeper was down at his feet in a flash, Richard Chattoe clearing the danger.

An injury to Moriarty at the end of the half saw the introduction of Dunne who slotted into the midfield. Again the Linnets had the edge. Mistakes by Andy Holden and Tim Hird were swiftly punished, Barnes breaking up one attack and Airey another. Boden's looping header grazed the Silsden bar whilst Everard produced another top class save from Braine.

Finally Silsden woke up and began a series of short sharp passes which saw Andy King fire inches wide. Holden rescued the defence on one occasion before releasing Holmes, who was denied by a goal-saving tackle.

With the midfield unable to establish any dominance Silsden's best spell followed the belated introduction of Martin Packer. A cross field ball from Holden was pulled down by Packer on the left who sped down to the byline before delivering a trademark cross. Two corners followed but the end product wasn't there. When Packer released Dunne on the edge of the box the youngster turned his man and shot to the near post. His shot was deflected. No fairy tale ending for Dunne but anything other than a home win would have been an injustice.

The Cobbydalers end the season with the visit of Bacup Borough on Saturday. Kick-off at Cougar Park is at 3pm.