SILSDEN have bounced back from a rocky start in the NCEL Premier Division to soar up to fifth place, with 13 points from their opening seven games.

And it is their scintillating attacking play which has really stood out, with one player in particular catching the eye.

New striker Joe Jagger, prolific in Sunday League with West Bowling, has fired home six league goals already, including a brace in their latest win, 2-0 at Goole.

And delighted Cobbydalers boss Danny Forrest said: “From the day Joe walked through the door here, it’s been refreshing to see how he’s thrown himself into it.

“He’s embraced what we’re about, and he’s produced the goods on the pitch so far.

“We’re always looking to get more out of Joe, and he wants to improve himself.

“This team has goals in it, even on poor days for us, which hasn’t always been the case in the past.

“Joe, Mo Qasim, Jack Normanton, Khurram Shazad and Brad Riley are all at the heart of that, and let’s hope it continues.”

And the first chance to keep that goal rush going is at home to Bradford District rivals Albion Sports this Saturday in the FA Vase First Qualifying Round.

Despite a great run of three wins in a row in the league, Forrest does not see this weekend’s match as an unwelcome distraction.

He said: “We’re looking forward to the Albion game. We were disappointed to go out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle, so it would be nice to have a run in this.

“Albion are a good side with goals in them, so it will be tough.

“Listen, even if it’s not their priority, every manager at this level will want a run in the FA Vase.

“A few years ago, we got quite far in it, and it generated excitement and interest around the club.

“There’s obviously the financial rewards and prizes on offer too.

“I’m keen to win every game, just like I was when I was a player, so Saturday is no different.”

And Silsden have got the winning feeling at the moment, but they didn’t a month ago, losing badly to Eccleshill United in the FA Cup and emerging pointless from their first two league games.

The second of those was an ugly 3-0 home defeat to Thackley, with Forrest saying: “We didn’t feel we were far off it, but no we didn’t play well in those first few games.

“It wasn’t panic stations, as we knew there was quality in the dressing room, but there were a few home truths aired and we looked at ourselves to see what we could do to improve.

“We worked hard in training and watched footage of the defeats to see where we’d gone wrong.

“Also, for all the attitude has been good since the first day of pre-season, it would have been easy for the players to just accept that we were playing badly.

“But they’ve worked hard to improve over the last few weeks, which is great to see.”

Long-term absentees Josh Kaine and Carlton Pownall are expected to be out until New Year, with Dan Illingworth due back imminently and Mark Everingham and Liam Hudson set to return within the next month.

Defender Connor Thompson is slowly returning from a broken leg, appearing on the bench a few times this season for the first team, and playing for the club’s West Yorkshire League side.