Silsden 3 Garforth Town 1

In a good start to the game the first couple of shots on target fell to Jay Davis, the first on 14 mins a low strike testing home keeper Phillip Rishton and the second from a corner a minute later when his shot was parried by Rishton and came to Nick Black who headed just over the bar. In a flurry of chances Captain Andy Hawksworth went close on 16 mins when his effort from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.

Silsden’s more direct approach brought about their first attempt on 20 mins when a ball forward found Thomas Henderson who forced a save from Town keeper Max Newbould. Newbould was there again to deny Ben Crabtree with a great stop from close range after some dangerous play on the left.

On the counter attack some brilliant work by Nick Black created a deserved Town lead, feeding Luke Mangham who broke free and rounded Rushton to score.

Injuries to Tim Robertson and Jack McCarthy forced manager Graham Nicholas into making changes towards the end of the first half and at the interval, replacing them with returning Liam Smith and Ashley Preece.

Garforth had dominated the first half but couldn’t find a crucial second. The hosts sensed their chance and stepped up a gear in the second half to put us on the ropes. Some good football seeing Nicholls and Zack Dale going close on 50 and 54 mins. A Town chance on 57 mins saw Sinmi Oyebanji head just over the bar after Rishton couldn’t hold onto a Liam Smith effort from the edge of a crowded box.

Despite spending our competitive season so far on the bench, Newbould showed his potential by pulling off a string of saves around the hour mark to keep us in the tie. A counter attack on 58 mins saw him deny Dale with a smart save after a clever dinked ball from Henderson. Four mins later the Cobbydalers were awarded a penalty when Smith brought down Nicholls in the area. Dale stepped up to take it but Newbould dived to his right to keep it out and then went one better by brilliantly saving the rebound. More heroics saw him pull off another good save to deny sub Dale Feather on 66 mins.

The warning signs were there but rather than be pushed on to seal the win The Miners struggled to keep possession of the ball, allowing Silsden to continue attacking. The home side finally found their equaliser on 68 mins when Tawanda Rupere’s headed clearance came out to Joe Jalil who volleyed into the bottom corner.

A good chance for Town did come on 75 mins when Davis shot just past the far post after some good work by Black, but only a minute later Daniel Fagan put Silsden ahead, heading in a Dale free kick at the back post.

Davis had another attempt on goal on 82 mins, forcing a save from Rishton from 20 yards. Sadly for the away support that was that and the home side confirmed their passage into the second round on 83 mins after Newbould hesitated in coming out for a long ball forward, allowing Nicholls to pounce and slot into the empty net.

A disappointing end to a game which at half time really was within our grasp. Silsden now travel to Consett in the next round, as it happens the very opponents we faced after beating the Cobbydalers in the competition back in 2006.