Tom Dibb (left) set up both Silsden goals against Bacup Borough on Saturday.
Silsden 2 Bacup Borough 0
The Cobbydalers ended their third campaign in the top division of the league with a comfortable, if not emphatic, victory over Bacup on Saturday.
Following an excellent run at the beginning of 2008 the Cobbydalers fell away to finish in mid table. At least the players go into the summer break with a win under their belts.
Holden produced the first chance delivering a telling ball into the Borough box but neither Reilly nor Dibb could reach the ball. A super cross from Dibb brought the opener, Graham Holmes volleying home with some aplomb. An injury to Hird saw Schofield introduce James Dunn and once again the youngster slotted in well.
While some of Silsden's passing over the season has been slick and penetrative sometimes there was a tendency to press the self destruct button and Silsden almost conceded an equaliser minutes after taking the lead. Airey slipped under pressure and the ball struck his hand when a shot was fired goalwards. Shepherd netted the spot kick before the referee was ready and had to retake it. Foulger read the striker's next attempt saving low to his left.
The Cobbydalers didn't learn their
lesson, still attempting to build up play across the back on a tricky end-of-season surface. If the passing is swift this can give the forwards time to break forward but if not it allows the defence to regroup and the momentum is lost. Sometimes the best policy is to clear the ball and rebuild from the front. Less attractive but more pragmatic.
Silsden were restricted to long-range shots. Dibb shot across the face of the goal and King went close with a powerful drive from outside the box. The game was beginning to have that "holiday" feeling. Nowhere was this better illustrated than when Stephenson pulled away at the back post to head back across goal. Even the visitors were surprised by the lack of marking, no one reacting to this golden chance.
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Holmes had a shot blocked by Repullo before Silsden doubled their lead. Dibb threaded the ball though a static defence and Reilly slid the ball under the advancing Melville to notch Silsden's 300th goal in the NWCFL.
Few chances were created in the second half. A series of corners resulted in a Dibb volley and a Bentham drive but neither tested Melville. Airey headed clear when Nettleton lost the ball to Herbert. Holden ran across the box but delayed his shot although he eventually fed the ball through to Reilly. Melville was off his line swiftly to deny the striker a second.
A super move by Bacup down the left led to the best chance of the half. Carroll headed wastefully over. Foulger was forced to make an excellent save at the near post from Luker to deny the visitors a consolation goal.
The season has had many ups and downs, superb victories over promotion hopefuls Newcastle Town and Salford City, and a Boxing Day victory away at Colne. These were balanced by defeats at the hands of relegation threatened Nelson and Abbey Hey. Once again youngsters have come through from the U-19s to gain valuable experience. Bring on 2008-09.
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