Soccer: Bullets hit their target

A combination of fast aggressive football by the Staffordshire outfit and a controversial decision by the referee's assistant put Silsden on the back-foot from the outset. Eventually the Cobbydalers settled down and might have got something out of the game with a slice of luck.

Alsager, were undefeated in the League since September and likely to go top with games in hand, and always likely to provide a tough encounter for the Cobbydalers even without two critical decisions going in their way.

A neutral observer suggested that marginal decisions often go in favour of teams chasing promotion rather than those in mid-table especially in front of a vociferous home crowd!

Alsager were probably worthy of their win but the Cobbydalers should approach the return fixture with more confidence, based on their second half performance, providing they are focussed from the kick-off.

Alsager were quickly out of the blocks exerting pressure on the Silsden defence. Regaining possession in midfield the ball was hit deep into the Cobbydaler's box, Bland headed it clear but Ireland returned the ball to the far post where Foulger and Gregory met the ball simultaneously.

Foulger held the ball and Alsager's claims for a goal were muted, but the referee's assistant's flag went up immediately despite viewing the incident through a packed goalmouth.

Alsager pushed the advantage home in the twelfth minute when Heler cut inside Rosser and Bland and slid the ball across the goal for an easy tap in by Mitchell.

Gradually the Yorkshiremen gained their composure and began to keep possession albeit without posing a threat. Gill and Longley were starved of the ball and were well shackled by the Bullet's back three. On a rare sortie forwards Bentham's cross fell behind Gill. Alsager were being contained and efforts on goal were rare. A cross from Verow was headed out by Bland and the same player also shot directly at Foulger.

Tom Appelbee, increasingly, became a threat down the wing but Silsden's first attempt on goal didn't come until the dying minutes of the first half. An inch-perfect free-kick from Packer was headed home by Michael Rosser with the keeper rooted to his line to give Silsden some hope for the second half.

Playing with the slope Silsden were much more positive and effective. Gill and Longley began to lose their markers and Rhodes and Whiteoak were able to exert some control in midfield. Gill cut into the box and was about to shoot when superbly tackled by Stokes. Gill had a header pushed wide for a corner before Rosser broke down the left past three defenders only to shoot narrowly wide.

Good interplay on the right by Alsager was followed by a deep cross by Ellis but Ireland shot wide. Appelbee had one effort cleared for a corner and another drive saved by McGing.

Silsden then worked the ball down the left. Gill fed Packer who played a one-two with Longley on the edge of the box. Packer crossed and Gill headed home only to see the assistant's flag raised again.

Although Longley's final pass to Packer, surrounded by defenders, was only a distance of two feet he was adjudged offside.

Alsager continued to move the ball swiftly forwards often looking for the channels. Macari, on the left, was initially thwarted by Foulger but the ball broke for the winger, with the keeper stranded he put his chip wide.

Silsden should have equalised minutes later. Bland breaking forwards slid the ball to Packer, he crossed beyond McGing but Longley put his header wide of the gaping net.

It wasn't to be Silsden's day. Macari headed wide and Nettleton cleared from Mitchell before McGing dived at the feet of the advancing Gill following a run by Rhodes on the left. Eventually the Cobbydaler's resolve was broken, a corner from the left was left to drop dangerously in the Silsden box and Mitchell side-footed home.

There in no game this Saturdayand next weekend (January 21) the face Stone Dominoes, away.