Silsden had a promising pre-season and won their first two games in the the North West Counties Premier Division but expectations have been reined in since then.

Back-to-back victories may have banked six points but they have added just two from a possible 15 since.

The Cobbydalers’ interest in this term’s FA Cup has also been curtailed, without adding a penny to the coffers.

Silsden secretary Jim Rosser said: “It was frustrating on Wednesday (3-0 defeat at Bacup & Rossendale Borough) because we were well beaten by a team who hadn’t won this season.

“Our defenders played well the game before (2-1 loss at Abbey Hey) but I felt the back four were really stretched at Bacup. There was some naïve football played, nothing like at Abbey Hey or our comeback against Stockport Sports.”

Cobbydalers boss Andy Geary has drafted in new recruits but has also relied on players progressing through the ranks.

That leaves him with a very young squad and only a handful of older heads, mainly from his first spell as first-team boss.

Rosser said: “Andy has to be careful with his team selection. He is making sure the young lads are not in the firing line too often but can’t get too much out of the older statesmen in the squad.

“Without some kind of regularity on the team sheet you are not going to find any consistency on the field but that’s where we are at the moment.”