North West Counties League Premier Division: Maine Road 3 Silsden 1

SILSDEN remain rooted to the foot of the table following their defeat at mid-table Maine Road.

It was a harsh result, and certainly a cruel scoreline for the Cobbydalers in what was a game of two halves.

The Manchester club were 2-0 up at the break but Silsden could and perhaps should have rescued at least a draw.

They had a penalty saved before they scored and hit the bar with the match balanced on a knife-edge at 2-1, but a stoppage-time goal made it look like a comfortable win for the home side.

The hosts dominated the first half and opened the scoring midway through it when Matty Wilson converted following a good move involving Martin Hill and Josh Tinker.

Just after the half-hour, Hill doubled the lead, curling a shot round Silsden keeper Ed Hall after an effort from the home side’s skipper Rory Breslin was blocked.

There was a little pressure from the Cobbydalers before the first period ended, and that served as a warning to Maine Road, but they were still taken aback by the visitors’ second-half display.

It was all Silsden after the break, and after their efforts led to a spot-kick, home keeper Ryan Livesey made a good stop to deny Joe Mitchell and was relieved to see his defence clear the loose ball.

The Cobbydalers finally got their reward when they broke the offside trap on the hour, and Daniel Riley was presented with a tap-in.

The woodwork denied them an equaliser, and salt was rubbed into their wounds when Road substitute Michael Burke scored into time added on.