Barnoldswick Town 2, Silsden 1

The Cobbydalers had to ride their luck to come back from their Boxing Day sortie over the Lancashire border with a narrow defeat.

Barnoldswick dominated most of the North West Counties League Premier Division game and the red-rose outfit should have won this derby by a much bigger margin.

They started with three former Sisden men in their side and, in typical derby tradition, it was one of them that opened the scoring.

Aaron Hollindrake was on the end of Joel Melia’s eighth-minute cross to fire past Cobbydalers’ keeper Ed Hall.

Hollindrake shot over minutes later and saw another effort hit a post midway through the first half.

The visitors had a brief spell of pressure which came to nothing but they sneaked an equaliser just before the break. A James Gill cross was converted by Lee McGowan’s looping header.

The Cobbydalers showed some spirit in the second half and the game turned into a midfield battle, with Barnoldswick’s chances being restricted.

They did eventually produce a winner, though, Paul Fildes steering a low shot past Hall with a little over four minutes remaining.

Silsden are not back in action until Saturday, January 4 when they host Ashton Athletic.