Silsden 1, Ramsbottom United 1

The Cobbydalers took their unbeaten run to eight games but they needed their ten men to come from a goal down to rescue a draw against Ramsbottom United at a wet Cougar Park.

Captain Martin Bland was dismissed for the second time in three games but Silsden boss Paul Schofield felt the defender was unlucky.

"I thought Martin Bland's sending-off was very harsh but I can fully understand why he was," said disappointed Schofield.

"He got a yellow card in the first half and in the 67th minute, he got a second one for kicking the ball away. It came after Danny McNulty fouled one of their players on the halfway line.

"When the whistle went Martin kicked the ball away out of frustration while having a pop at Danny.

"It wasn't out of a disregard for the rules, to prevent a quick free-kick being taken by the opposition or out of annoyance at the official or the decision.

"When the ref reached for a card we all thought he was going to book Danny for the challenge.

"We can't take issue with it because it is within the guidelines. But it galvanised us more than handed an advantage to Ramsbottom. Our lads felt aggrieved and battled."

Silsden were trailing to a 42nd-minute goal from Sean Pearson but scored an equaliser through Graham Holmes.

"Once we got the goal back, with eight minutes to go we were going for the win because we had the impetus. Either side could have won it so overall we will take a point."

If Silsden had turned some of their draws into wins they would be pushing for promotion but they slipped to ninth with this latest stalemate.

Home goalkeeper Martin Foulger made his first save of many before the visitors broke the deadlock on the counter-attack.

Silsden striker Lee Reilly had just been thwarted by the trailing leg of the visitors' goalkeeper but seconds later, Foulger could only parry a shot across him and Pearson converted the rebound.

The late leveller was sparked by second-half substitute Tom Applebee. He broke on the left flank and cut the ball back to the unmarked Graham Holmes rather than chip it into the goal mouth.

The ball reared up for Holmes but he kept over the ball to lash in a half-volley from 15 yards.