It has been success all the way for Silsden's Sunday outfit, now in their third season of Alliance

football.

Under the umbrella of the successful Saturday team, they enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals of the County Cup, are chasing a third consecutive

promotion and are preparing for an Intermediate Cup semi-final on Sunday.

It's been a good move for a side which contains Saturday players from Silsden, Steeton and Cross Hills, and a

necessary one according to manager Sean McNulty.

"We were getting to the stage where it was becoming an embarrassment in the Wharfedale League. Keighley Juniors and ourselves were winning by cricket scores most weeks. The only hard game we got was when we played each other and we needed a different challenge. The Alliance League wanted to

consolidate by attracting new clubs and encouraged us to move."

Knowing that Magnet had once been turned down because they were outside the city boundaries, Silsden, along with the Juniors, were relieved to be accepted into Division Three for season 2003-04.

Both sides reached the Amateur final in their initial season. Though the Juniors won that one, Silsden gained revenge by winning the District Cup.

Back in the senior County Cup this

season, Silsden accounted for good teams like Towngate (Mirfield) and Fford Grene (Leeds) before going out to last season's quarter-finalists Redoubt (Wakefield) at the quarter-final stage.

The Redoubt defeat still rankles with Jason, the younger of the two McNulty brothers, believing his side were robbed by a linesman's mistake.

"We were leading 2-1 for most of the match. They levelled and in the last minute got a winner from a move in which the ball had clearly gone out of play."

While their County Cup exploits have been something to shout about, the club have had to take some local stick for their performance in the Keighley and District Cup, where they lost out on penalties to fellow Alliance club Oakworth Juniors, who operate in a division below.

"We were coasting at 3-0 up and

complacency set in because players thought the game was over," said Jason. "Oakworth came back and we got what we deserved."

The success of Albion Sports in the FA Sunday Cup has encouraged Silsden to seriously think about entering the

prestige competition.

"It's on the agenda," added Jason, who together with his brother provided Keighley's top goalkeepers of the

eighties (Jason was with Silsden and Sean with rivals Magnet).

"With Cougar Park we won't have any ground problems and if it isn't next

season it will certainly be the season after."

With key players like keeper Martin Foulger (suspended) and James Gill (foot) currently out of action, Silsden go into the last month of the season with their double hopes still intact.

Most people's favourites for the Division 1A title at the start of the season, Silsden haven't done their title prospects any favours in their last two outings.

Chances were squandered in a 0-0 draw with Queensbury Reserves and on Sunday they fought back to level terms with title rivals Victoria Rangers only to be hit by a sucker punch.

With promotion still very much in their own hands, Silsden bid to reach the Intermediate Cup final on Sunday

hoping that a season that has promised so much doesn't end in an anticlimax.