SILSDEN have made a barnstorming start to their North West Counties League Premier Division campaign.

The Cobbydalers are one of just five clubs boasting a maximum start from the opening two games going into tomorrow’s trip to Congleton Town.

It is not just the victories that have pleased insiders at Silsden but the way they have been gained.

They have scored eight goals and conceded just once while beating Abbey Hey and, more satisfyingly, Barnoldswick Town. The clubs are neighbours, and Town keep tempting the Cobbydalers’ players away.

Club spokesman Jim Rosser said: “We are second in the league, because we’ve let one goal in. Glossop have won both of their games, scored eight but have kept two clean sheets.

“I don’t think we will be there (second in the table) for long but it’s been a very, very good start. We didn’t score four too many times last season but we have done it in both of our games so far.

“We won the first game with a very young defence because of people on holidays but we were stronger on Tuesday at Barlick.

"That was a good game and I thought they were going to take the lead because they had a great spell at the start of the first half.

“They had seven ex-Silsden men and, because of that and because it was Barlick, it was very competitive. The only difference between the sides was that they didn’t take their first-half chances.

“The Silsden players rode that and in the end it was easy because Barlick went down to ten men in the 65th minute. They sent a substitute on and he got a red card for a bad challenge.

“But that shouldn’t take anything away from the Silsden lads though. It was a really good performance, the subs came on and everyone played well. I don’t know what’s happened to us but long may it continue.”