Silsden 1 Bootle 2

The Cobbydalers suffered a heartbreaking defeat at home to high-flying Bootle, with the visitors netting a winner three minutes into stoppage time.

The Merseyside outfit were fourth going into the game but their narrow victory has taken them into the top three.

They had most of the territorial advantage in the goalless first half without really creating too many clear openings.

Silsden had a spell midway through that period in which they saw a lot of the ball but, likewise, they failed to test the opposition’s keeper.

It was the home side that did break the deadlock and despite it being from the penalty spot it stemmed from a good move. Following some neat passing, an Andy Lee ball into the near post found Danny Bryan and he was bundled over. Elliott Holmes sent the Bootle keeper the wrong way as he netted the spot-kick.

Silsden were in front for all of 14 minutes as Bootle’s Lee Madin saw home keeper Edward Hall advancing off his line and chipped him from 30 plus yards.

Chances followed at either end, however it was the visitors who struck deep into time added on.

Silsden defender Danny McNulty, who had seen an 88th-minute effort of his own saved by the Bootle keeper, threw his body in the way of a shot at Hall’s goal but the rebound fell to Paul Byrne and he drilled it into the net.