Northwich Victoria 3

Silsden 0

SILSDEN travelled to Cheshire to face Northwich Victoria in the FA Vase, both sides having reached the third round for the first time in their history.

Cobbydalers boss Danny Forrest has several players back from injury and on paper his team looked good, but the lack of game time and match fitness was to tell on the Yorkshire outfit.

At the back, Dan Illingworth and Josh Kaine were partnered together, allowing Arley Barnes to return to the midfield to partner Joe Mitchell, himself back from a lengthy injury.

Silsden took the corresponding league fixture 2-0 in late September and from that date Northwich have been upwardly mobile, winning nine of their games losing only to second-placed Congleton and Tranmere Rovers in the Cheshire Senior Cup.

The game started at a frantic pace with Chris Wademan being halted by Brandon Barski. Illingworth stopped Harvey Whyte and Reece Lyndon blocked a shot from Dom Craig at the expense of a corner.

When Chris Wademan saw his low shot saved by Danny Taberner, the game certainly felt like a cup tie.

Sammy Lee made a superb save from Joel Brownhill`s thunderbolt shot from outside the box on 12 minutes, but two minutes later Barski opened the scoring after the Silsden defence failed to clear a corner.

The Vics were moving the ball swiftly with verve and each recipient of a pass were given several options to move the ball on. Kaine managed to deny Matthews and Lee cleared the ball after one build-up.

The Cobbydalers were being pushed back by a rampant home side. Whyte had a shot deflected for a corner, which Illingworth headed clear.

Silsden began to string some passes together but they were struggling to get behind the home defence.

After Matthews had shot wide the Vics broke away again swiftly but Moses cleared for a corner. The ball was headed goalward, Lee gathered it only to spill it under pressure, Andy Fitzgerald blasted the ball into the back of the net.

Just before half time Mitchell curled a shot just wide just before the referee blew.

Silsden started the second half on the offensive with sharper passing. Mitchell had a shot blocked early on, then Wademan`s effort, just wide.

The Cobbydalers had to be more offensive but this offered opportunities to Northwich to break away.

Lee made a great save from Brownhill, who was deemed offside anyway. Bentham cleared a corner before Sultan and Gaughan combined to create a great chance, but the Vic's defence stood firm.

On the hour Illingworth broke up a dangerous attack and Brownhill fired over the bar.

With 15 minutes left Forrest replaced Gaughan and Everingham came on for Lyndon. Forrest brought more impetus up front but not for long as the energy seeped from Silsden.

The final 10 minutes saw Sammy Lee make four outstanding saves as Silsden were pushing forward.

The first from Brownhills shot from outside the box, then at full stretch he flicked Cooke`s shot over the bar.

Mason shot wide of the post, Lee denied Brownhill yet again. Finally, he dived at the feet of Brownhill, there was a foul in the area and this time Brownhill made no mistake with the spot-kick.

In the dying minutes Forrest went close at the other end before seeing another shot saved following a throw-in.

The tough games do not stop for Silsden. On Saturday they visit third-placed Runcorn Town, and on the following Tuesday they are at second-placed Congleton, who, with one game in hand are six points behind the league leaders, City of Liverpool.

Silsden: Lee, Bentham, Moses, Kaine, Illingworth, Lyndon (Everingham 74) Barnes, Mitchell, Wademan, Gaughan (Forrest 74), Sultan. Subs not used: Rhodes, Ainscough, Storrie