SILSDEN got back to winning ways by playing out a typically solid away day performance to secure a 1-0 victory at Thackley.
In what was only their third win in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, the Cobbydalers captured the three points through a 86th minute Chris Wademan strike.
The big surprise in the Silsden team was the inclusion of left-back Carlton Parnell, who had had to be carried off injured towards the end of the midweek defeat against Albion sports.
The Dennyboys had the better of the opening exchanges with Luke Robinson looking sharp. Their first real chance came from their second corner but Chris Lever headed wide. Four minutes later, a superb tackle by Parnell denied them the opener.
Thackley keeper Luke Wilson managed to punch a free-kick clear before Leon Hurles-Brooks appeared to have been pulled back in the box. The whistle never blew. A high foot on Mark Simpson resulted in a caution and a free-kick. Simpson took it but it was tipped for a corner by Wilson.
Silsden began to take control with some patient passing but there was little penetration until Arley Barnes slid a ball through to the back post. Harry Thompson made a good contact with the ball but his effort just cleared the bar.
The best spell from the home side came midway through the half, with Lewis Waddington curling in three crosses from the left. The Thackley forwards failed to capitalise with Robinson going the closest to opening the score.
Hurles-Brook then produced some magic. His through-ball to Simpson ended with the striker hitting the side-netting. Interplay with Khurram Shazad came to nought, with a right-foot curler whizzing past the far post. Shazad then threaded a ball through to Hurles-Brook but he couldn’t quite get a touch on it.
Barnes hit a ball over to the left where Pownall had made a strong run. He reached the edge of the penalty area but his shot cleared the bar.
Five minutes before the break, the Dennyboys claimed a penalty. Waddington hit a low ball which struck Barnes’s hand. Ball to hand! No penalty.
Silsden continued on the front foot at the start of the second half. Hurles-Brook broke ahead of three chasing defenders but ran out of steam on the heavy pitch.
After being on the back foot for much of the game, Thackley might well have taken the lead when Lever headed down to Robinson but he sliced his effort wide..
Silsden were indebted to Alfie Darke, who denied Robinson the opener, with his feet when the forward was in the clear.
Finally, five minutes from time, the stalemate was broken. The ball was crossed in to the Thackley box. Initially blocked, the ball reached Robbie Fox who missed it, but there was substitute Wademan at the back post to rifle it home.
The Dennyboys still had time to equalise but Josh Kaine blocked Ben Grech-Brooksbank’s low shot in the final minute to deny them a share of the spoils.
Danny Forrest and his team were delighted with the result moving the Cobbydalers up the table.
The Silsden boss said: “It was a hard-fought game in energy-sapping conditions. We certainly created several good chances but 1-0 was enough to give the lads and fans a lift.”
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