Season tailed off in final month

1:03pm Friday 9th May 2008

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The Cobbydalers' Vodkat League Division One season did not so much tail off as hit a brick wall with a month to go but it still brought the club their highest-ever placing.

It was Silsden's third season in the UniBond League's feeder division and they had set their sights on a top-six placing.

They finished just below the top half of the table but many of the clubs who ended above them were on a different level in financial terms.

"I was looking back at the stats and they tell me that it was a very positive season - it was just a shame we finished as we did," said Silsden chief Paul Schofield after the last-day victory over Bacup Borough at Cougar Park ended a frustrating run of defeats.

"We started well away from home - we won at Salford City and Newcastle Town, who finished second and third.

"Our best spell was in the middle third from mid- November into March. In the 15 games in that run, we won seven, drew six and lost just two.

"That form would have been enough for us to get fourth place if we had been able to maintain it throughout the campaign.

"My top target was fourth but, more realistically, top six would have done.

"We were right in the mix at the end of March. Injuries and unavailability caught up with us - it wasn't inexperience but a lack of experience that hurt us.

"We had the likes of Matthew Bland, Michael Rhodes, James Nettleton and Martin Foulger all missing.

"We had five players who had captained the side this season all out one week. Other weeks saw at least two of the five missing, and that continued."

The club threatened to over-achieve, then got a nose bleed at high altitude and had to come down a step or two to catch their breath.

Another ten months of learning that they can refer to next term will have its benefits.