Silsden 1 Cammell Laird 5 - Until a minute before the half time whistle the Cobbydalers were still in the game even though they had been pummelled by a slick, pacey Lairds side for much of the half, but a mistake by Nettleton was latched onto by Morgan who fed Crouch for a simple tap in to make it 2-0.

An under-hit back pass by Dowgill immediately on the restart was seized on by McGuire and the Lairds were three up. An own goal minutes later gave Silsden some hope but as the half went on the exertions of Thursday night's game caught up with them. Bland's dimissal for two cautions only added to the pressure as the Lairds netted twice more.

Both Dowgill and Nettleton like the rest of their team gave their all in what was for much of the game a rearguard action. During the summer break the Lairds have strengthened their side considerably whereas Silsden haven't and are looking to build on their youth policy for the future.

Sam Dowgill looks comfortable in the first team and the diminutive Harry Thompson showed flashes of what the fans can expect in the future. Tim Hurd's chances have been limited to date but he worked hard when he came on late in the game.

The Lairds were quick to close down the Cobbydalers in midfield and for much of the first half Silsden were forced into desperate defence. In the opening minutes Morgan, last year's Division Two top scorer, was prominent first shooting narrowly wide, then having a shot charged down by Nettleton and finally being denied by Bland as the Lairds laid siege to the Silsden goal.

On a rare sortie upfield Bland flicked on to Hedges who volleyed narrowly wide.

Time and time again the Lairds breached Silsden's midfield but Nettleton, Bland and Rosser were their equal. Both Bland and Nettleton threw their bodies in the way of fierce shots and Rosser was alert enough to cut out a through ball when the defence was being pulled out of position. Midway through the half Appelbee had worked hard down the right to gain space but his deft chip from the by-line was saved by Bimpson.

Such was the frustration of his failure to score, Morgan was booked for kicking the ball away when judged offside. Forward came the Merseysiders again, McCoy beat Rhodes and crossed dangerously, Rosser headed it clear, McGuire shot wide from the edge of the box, Morgan set up Jebb but Foulger tipped his shot over the bar. The pressure was intense and eventually the defence cracked. Morgan and Cooke both had shots blocked in the six yard area but the ball broke to Couch who scored from close range.

It had been a compelling first half with Dowgill and Hedges battling to gain possession in the middle and both Packer and Rhodes forced back as Silsden battled to stay in the game.

The mistakes of Nettleton and Dowgill either side of the break were severely punished by couch and McGuire respectively, giving the Cobbydalers a mountain to climb.

A bizarre own goal was incidental to the final outcome.

Andy Holden looked a shadow of his former self, on the final Saturday of last season he scored Silsden's vital opener at the Lairds and crossed for Hoyle to add the second but recently he has looked lethargic. On a rare break forward Mick Rhodes set up Gill who cut inside his marker only to see his shot go wide. Rhodes recovered quickly with a superb tackle to deny the Lairds a fourth.

Clampit volleyed into the top corner, Bland was sent off and Dowgill was replaced by Hurd.

The Cobbydalers struggled to break forwards but McGuire's goal in stoppage time was a cruel blow.

A heavy defeat in the end, but the spirit was good, Gill epitomising this with his tireless chasing down of the Laird's defenders. Geary must find a way of giving Gill more support if Silsden are to climb out of the danger zone.

With consecutive home games against fellow strugglers Atherton Collieries (Oct 29th) and Atherton L R (Nov 5th) the team must be looking for six points.

Bacup Borough 2

Silsden 0

Manager Andy Geary was left scratching his head after seeing his side waste numerous chances against Bacup Borough on Thursday.

He had been hoping to build on the recent improvements but it is clear that the gap between the top of Division Two and the bottom of Division One is quite wide considering the ease with which Silsden were able to dispatch Padiham in the League Cup.

A late call-up for fireman Mick Rhodes meant that Holden took over the right wing-back position, otherwise Silsden were unchanged.

The Cobbydalers started brightly with Gill going close with a volley and Hedges shooting over after good work on the left by Packer and Dowgill. Gill dived to head in a Packer cross but he couldn't quite shake off the attention of Hughes.

A free kick by Rosser was blocked by the defensive wall but Holden was able to get in a cross to the back post only to see Anderson head it clear.

Eventually the 'Boro' came into the game, Lomax shooting wide. A sweeping move revolving around Logington was broken up by Nettleton and when the ball was hit long by the Boro, Martin Bland was supreme in the air. Hedges and Dowgill were gaining supremacy in midfield and Packer was proving a threat down the left.

A through ball from Hedges found Longley on the edge of the box with his back to goal. Spinning left he rifled in a low shot, unfortunately narrowly wide.

The only time Allen had to make a save was to tip over Rosser's speculative long free kick. A diving header from Bland was also wide and as the half came to an end Bacup put the Silsden defence under pressure but Foulger's goal was never really threatened.

Playing with the slope in the second half Gill created space on the left and laid the ball back for Bland whose shot at least tested Allen.

Bacup took the lead when Welsh rose at the near post to flick the ball over Foulger to the far post for a superb goal.

Silsden increased the tempo, Longley again turned the defence but shot over. A free kick from Holden was headed back into the box and Bland forced it home but was deemed offside.

Packer then sent over a series of superb crosses but no one could convert them, on one occasion Appelbee failing to control quickly enough before being closed down. A fierce tackle from Bland allowed Hedges to break forward. His pass reached Gill, another great turn but another shot over the bar.

As in most games a defining moment, or controversial moment to the Red Army, came.

Dowgill broke free but was fouled on the edge of the penalty area, the assistant flagged but the referee waved play on. Dowgill sped into the box and was again impeded, the whistle went.

Silsden fans expected a penalty but the Cobbydalers were only awarded a free kick outside the box which was cleared for a corner.

Holden's cross was met by Bland at the near post but the header was marginally wide. With the Cobbydalers pushing forwards gaps were inevitably left at the back but only the tricky Stanley forced a save from Foulger. Both Nettleton and Gill failed to tap in a Holden corner at the near post before Appelbee, who had found it difficult to have an impact on the game despite his work rate, was replaced by Danny Finn.

The substitute will want to forget his first appearance of the season. He failed to get any power on a header after another cross from Packer and then kicked out at an opponent on the edge of his own box and was sent off.

To make matters worse Carroll lifted his free kick over the defensive wall into the net.

Although Geary saw this as three points lost he was pleased with the overall performance, Dowgill and Hedges working well in midfield. The loss through suspension of Packer will be a problem as little came from the right, Holden being more concerned with his defensive duties.

Geary will have to expect more of the experienced winger and hope to keep Gill in the middle where he can cause more of a threat.