Ten-man Silsden fall to big draw FC United

Source: thisisbradford.co.uk

By Daryl Ames

FC United 4 Silsden 2 Silsden returned from this encounter in front of the season's largest crowd with their heads held high despite a defeat by league leaders FC United.

FC had won their previous nine games, only conceding two goals. That the ten-man Silsden side scored twice says much for their fighting qualities. The young Cobbydalers were up for the challenge of playing in front of 3,381 fans at Bury on Saturday.

Silsden chairman Sean McNulty said: From start to finish, apart from the scoreline, it was a fantastic game. It was exhilarating for the lads to play in front of all those people.
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Manager Paul Schofield added: "The lads rose to the occasion. They just got on with it. There was nothing between the two teams and FC United told us that themselves."

The defining moment of the match came in the 34th minute. Silsden had matched their illustrious opponents and were looking at ease before the vociferous FC choir.

Mark Bentham got caught in a one-on-one situation with the pacy Rory Patterson on the halfway line. Bentham was turned and Patterson bore down on the Silsden goal.

Keeper Martin Foulger raced from his line and challenged for the ball, Patterson went down and the ball fell to the league's leading scorer Stuart Rudd who shot wide of the empty net.

Initially the referee appeared to point for a goal kick but was attracted to the sideline by his assistant. Eventually a penalty was given. Worse was to follow, the referee brandished a red card to the Silsden keeper.

Later Foulger acknowledged: "It was a foul, and a penalty but I reached the ball a split second after Patterson. It was a genuine challenge.e"

The referee deemed otherwise. Silsden had to roll up their sleeves and Jamie Longley, their leading scorer took over between the sticks. Rudd hammered his spot kick straight and hard. Longley could only pick it out of the net.

Within minutes, Silsden were two down. Longley had already pushed a shot wide and Andy Holden had scrambled the ball clear from a goalmouth melee. With Longley in goal, Silsden had no outlet and when Carden dribbled through a static defence to shoot past Longley a rout looked on the cards.

With Longley in goal, Silsden were short of their main goal threat. Schofield might have shut up shop in the second half, but true to the club's tradition he decided to go for broke.

Centre back Shaun Airey donned the keeper's jersey and Longley went up front, Schofield gambling with three at the back. It certainly made for rich entertainment. Tim Hird was given a holding role in the middle of the park and he challenged and ran as though his life depended on it as FC exploited the gaps at the back.

Patterson was in his element running at a stretched defence but Nettleton was his match on several occasions. Rudd at the far post failed to reach Patterson's downward header.

At the other end, Longley latched onto a perceptive ball from Holden and cut in from the left, his shot struck Taylor's hand but no penalty was given. Finally Silsden got a break, Longley turned Chadwick and Simpson slotted the ball home.

Silsden's joy was short lived. From the restart, the ball was pushed forwards and Patterson shot audaciously into the roof of the net.

Sam Dowgill and Harry Thompson came on to add fresh legs as did all the substitutes for FC. Amongst them was Rhodri Giggs who immediately forced a save from Airey.

Airey was then injured diving at Rudd's feet and on came the Silsden physio, Michelle Brook. The FC congregation behind the goal sang "Sign her up" and gave her a great ovation. When the FC United physio came on moments later, he was ironically booed.

Throughout, the FC choir was in good voice directing some kind words at Fergie.

FC should have made it five but Mortimer hit the bar following Patterson's nutmeg.

Another Andy Holden free kick went narrowly wide before Longley was rewarded for his persistence. Cutting in from the left, he beat two men before deceiving Ashton at the near post.

Silsden have an FA VASE encounter this Saturday against Darlington RA.

FC UNITED: Ashton, Taylor, Mortimer, Spencer (Smith), Chadwick, Nugent, Howard (Giggs), Carden (Orr), Rudd, Ahern, Patterson.

SILSDEN: Foulger, Bentham, McNulty (Dowgill), Nettleton, Airey, Holden, Hird (Thompson), Hollindrake (Dibb), Longley, Simpson, Packer.

Goals: FC United - Rudd 37, Carden 41, Patterson 21, 63; Silsden - Simpson 63, Longley 90.