Darwen 0

Silsden 2

Silsden recovered from a double-injury setback to put themselves firmly back in the hunt for promotion from North West Counties Division Two with a comfortable win in Lancashire.

The game was far from a classic, and the bumpy pitch did nothing to help flowing football from either side.

But with Darwen in mid-table and able to play without pressure, it was important for Silsden to break them down.

The task was harder after only ten minutes when Martin Bland was forced off with a pulled hamstring.

Worse was to follow as Jimmy Spencer also hobbled out of the midfield - a recurrence of a calf injury ending his afternoon.

However, right on the stroke of half-time, Silsden breached the home defence to snatch an opener at a crucial time.

They took a lead into the interval thanks to Michael Rosser, and the big defender went on to bag himself a brace.

The first was presented to him when the Darwen keeper fumbled a cross from the right by Martin Maude.

Then, in the 65th minute, he was in the right place at the right time once more to lash in a shot after an attempted clearance had hit Jonny Luckett-Farley on the back.

Rosser was then the latest Silsden player to succumb to injury - they were without six first-teamers before losing three in this game. He had to be substituted with 15 minutes to go.

"It was very important that we got the three points. Winsford United lost on Good Friday so it has opened up for us a little bit," said Silsden manager Andy Geary.

"It wasn't pretty but sometimes, especially late in the season when your squad is stretched, it is just about getting the result.

"We finished up with three 16-year-olds out on the pitch so our youth policy is coming into it's own a little before we expected.

"The injury situation is becoming a bit of a nightmare. We expect a few knocks and bruises but this is beyond that.

"But it was still a win and a very solid defensive display. We needed that."