Vodkat North West Counties Premier League

Wednesday 8th October 2008

Bacup Borough were eleven minutes from doing the double over Silsden but two goals within three minutes of each other, 76 and 79 minutes meant that Bacup will have to settle for four points out of a possible six points.

The first forty five minutes was evenly contested both teams putting each other’s defence under pressure but with varying styles of football. Bacup got on the ball and looked to play whilst Silsden were more direct, the first real opportunity fell to the home side when Matthew Cross linked well with debutant Nicky Robinson who found his strike partner Turner. Tommy Turner created space for himself to get his shot off but desperate defending prevented this. The ball was played square to Harrop who got his shot off but it was blocked on its way to goal. Silsden broke down their right hand side before delivering a cross with Aaron Hollindrake getting a first time shot in but was well over the bar. Following this Bacup had a fortunate escape when Silsden worked the ball well and had a goal bound shot cleared off the line by Warren Collier. It was then Bacup’s turn to cause problems in the Silsden defensive third when Hampson and Cross combined well before Cross got his shot off which the keeper dealt with. The final chance of the half fell to Bacup when Nicky Robinson earned a free kick at the edge of the box. Matthew Cross took the kick which the keeper saved but only pushed the ball into Rother who again shot which was also saved before scrambling the ball to safety.

Whilst the first forty five minutes was even, the same can’t be said for the second half. Bacup took their game to another level with some excellent controlled football forcing Silsden onto the defensive, Bacup earned themselves yet another free kick which Hampson played short to Cross who played a quality ball in and Tommy Turner connected at the far post with a bullet of a header which produced a top save from Martin Foulger tipping the ball over the bar for a corner. From the corner on 66 mins the deadlock was broken when Steve Sheils headed past Foulger from a quality delivery. Silsden at the opposite end had Bacup’s Phil Melville clambering back to his goal line when a long deep diagonal ball came into the area which bounced off the top of the cross bar. Bacup on the other hand went further in front on 72 minutes when Kyle Harrop did well with a fully committed challenge, Tommy Turner picked up the loose ball to race onto goal before producing a quality finish.

The way Bacup were dominating the half and any threat coming from Silsden was quickly nullified with some excellent defending there seemed no way back for Silsden. However on 76 minutes a stroke of good fortune came their way when a Bacup clearance dropped to Lee Reilly who shot through a crowded area to pull a goal back. Three minutes later they were level with yet another stroke of good fortune when Luke Richardson’s shot from the edge of the box seemed to take a deflection off Steve Sheils which wrong footed Melville to score. Nicky Taylor was introduced for the final eleven minutes replacing Jamie Rother and on 83 minutes Bacup could and probably should have got the winner when Tommy Turner latched onto a through ball before squaring for Robinson who’s goal bound shot was met with a last ditch challenge sending the ball well over the cross bar, this was to be the last opportunity of the game for either side.

Following the game we spoke to the Bacup Manager who had this to say ”Of course we are disappointed that we conceded a two goal advantage in the last quarter of the match but such is football. It doesn’t matter how well your team plays over the ninety minutes if the opposition get a lucky break then there is not a lot one can do. When we cleared the ball, the clearance could easily have dropped to one of our players, it didn’t, it dropped to one of their players who finished it.

The second goal was different in terms of we had plenty of bodies around the ball but the lad still managed half a yard to get a shot off but with the amount of players we had around the ball that should not have happened. The ironic part about that goal was just prior I had Nicky Taylor getting ready to go on as I felt the midfield lads had worked really hard in there and Jamie & Kyle were beginning to tire, probably that answers why the lad worked enough space to get his shot off. I am refusing to portion any blame onto my lads, the midfield worked well, defensively we were defending excellently and the lads upfront worked hard although Tommy was restricted following a first minute cynical challenge by Richard Chattoe.

Silsden are a difficult well organised side to play against, they tried to hurt us in the channels by pushing full backs on to supply crosses into the box but we nullified their threat very well with work rate, organisation and endeavour and at the same time created opportunities for ourselves. Not many teams will get four points out of Silsden as we have done and I am pleased about that, equally I am pleased with the effort and commitment that my lads showed through out “

Team: Phil Melville, Ryan Marley , Steve Sheils, Davey Luker, Matthew Cross, Warren Collier, Matthew Hampson, Jamie Rother (Nicky Taylor), Kyle Harrop, Tommy Turner, Nicky Robinson

Subs Not Used: Dominic Slavin, Martin Cosgrave, Lee Oldham, Matthew Andrew

Goals: Steve Sheil 60, Tommy Turner 72

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