THERE will be some renewing of old acquaintances when Silsden host Albion Sports in a Bradford District derby this weekend, as both sides search for a confidence-boosting win.

The Cobbydalers are sat comfortably in mid-table in the NCEL Premier Division, but have not picked up three points since mid-October, while third-bottom Albion secured their last league victory way back on September 18.

As a result, both of Albion's managers, Ishy Hussain and Danny Brown, left the club by mutual consent yesterday.

Asked if he fancied his team’s chances against an Albion side in disarray, Silsden boss Danny Forrest said: “To be honest, I’d back us in any game in the division with the players we’ve got.

“But I know them quite well at Albion, with us sharing similar networks, and they’ve got some really good young players down there, some of whom we’ve had in our team in the past.

“So from our point of view, it’s about how we can cause them problems, rather than focusing on their bad run or anything.”

On the game being a Bradford District derby, Forrest said: “It’s good for local interest, and hopefully it means we’ll get a few turning up on the gate.

“I’d rather be facing them than some of the teams in this league who are miles away.

“There’s a bit of local pride at stake, and with there being a few Bradford teams in this division, these games are always a good chance to test ourselves.”

The Albion defence will be tested on Saturday, with Silsden’s two main strikers in top form.

Jack Normanton hit both of their goals in a 2-2 draw against Emley last weekend, while Mo Qasim netted a brace in their previous league game, another 2-2 draw, that time with Maltby Main.

Forrest said: “When we spoke in pre-season, I told you (the Keighley News) that we needed a bit more firepower and reliability at the top end of the pitch.

“I feel like we’ve got that with Jack and Mo, as they’re always at it and every game you feel like they have a chance of scoring.

“The pair of them are special players for us.”

In the first month of the season, both of them were still scoring, yet arguably Silsden’s standout striker back then was Joe Jagger.

Despite that early burst, he left the Cobbydalers to join Emley last month, so went up against his old team at the weekend.

Asked why Jagger had departed, Forrest said: “It just didn’t work out with Joe in the end.

“I’ve got a lot of time and respect for him, but with it not working, we had to decide what to do with him, and moving him on was the decision we took.

“These things happen in football sometimes.”

As one door closes, another one opens, and Silsden full-back Mark Everingham is finally back in the first team after 14 months out.

Forrest said: “Mark’s been at the club for over four years, so it’s a huge positive to have him back.

“He’s missed the last 14 months due to a complicated ankle injury, but he’s come back in the last couple of weeks.

“Liam Hudson is probably only two weeks away from returning too, having been out since April.”

Forrest does not expect Carlton Pownall or Josh Kaine to be back until at least New Year still, while the club are hopeful that Craig Billington’s knee injury is not as bad as first feared.

As well as the Silsden and Albion derby, Thackley are also in NCEL Premier Division action, as they host Hemsworth Miners Welfare.

Eccleshill United are at home in the FA Vase second round against Barton Town.

In the NWCFL First Division North, Campion host Garstang, while Steeton are at South Liverpool.

In the NPL East Division, Liversedge are not in action, but Brighouse Town visit Lincoln United.