Madeley’s belter earns all three points at Silsden

Silsden 0, Glossop North End 1
NWCFL Premier Division

Match Report: Stewart Taylor
Pictures: Jim Lockwood

The Hillmen travelled through glorious Yorkshire countryside on Saturday for a League match at Silsden and returned with all three points from a match which they dominated for long periods.

A cold, bright but still day welcomed the players onto the pitch with GNE giving debuts to Andrew Jones, a recent signing from Winsford United, in goal and central midfielder Paul Smith who has played all season at neighbours Abbey Hey. The Cobbydalers lined up with a fair few unfamiliar faces in a side which has been much changed since the last time the Hillmen were the visitors.

GNE started brightly with much of the play coming down the left hand side with Matty Russell and Lee Blackshaw combining well. But attempts on goal were limited as efforts faded to nothing or were stopped by the excellent work of home captain James Gill in central defence. The Cobbydalers were restricted to sporadic forward movements involving high balls up to the almost impossibly tall centre forward Mikey Hall but his flicked headers came to nothing.

Only one significant goal attempt was registered by each side in a first half dominated in terms of both possession and field position by the visitors. On 38 minutes a shot by Andy Kilheeney forced goalkeeper Ed Hall into his first significant action of the match and then into added time a cross from the right was met by the head of Mikey Hall but his effort from close range was straight at Jones who saved comfortably.

The second half started with the sides hardly getting out of the midfield area. Andrew Hill for the Cobbydalers was bringing a little more control to the home midfield but it was the visitors who took the lead on 54 minutes. The ball found its way to Sam Madeley just outside the area and his fine shot dipped wickedly over the head of Ed Hall to find the net and bring just reward for the Hillmen’s efforts.

The tone of the match continued through the second half with GNE again dominating both possession and position but with nothing to show on the scoreboard. As the game entered the last five minutes it sparked into life with three good chances falling to Glossop forwards. Firstly, substitute Paul Cliff found himself one on one with the goalkeeper. A ball square to an unmarked Tom Bailey was on but Cliff took on the shot himself and the ball cannoned of Hall to safety. A minute later and Hall was called into action again saving well from a Lee Blackshaw shot. Almost immediately Tom Bailey was put through by a precision pass from Nick Allen but Hall was well positioned and saved well.

Overall, a good performance by GNE having dominated the match but a couple more goals would have made the match much more comfortable and would have been fully justified on the 90 minutes of play. Having said that, a clean sheet is always a positive. As for the debutants, Jones will certainly have busier matches in which to show his capabilities whilst Smith looked calm and assured in central midfield showing a good positional sense and the ability to play the simple pass – most encouraging.

GNE: Jones, Young, Russell, Lugsden, Adams, Smith, Allen, Kilheeney, Bailey (Hirst), Madeley (Cliff), Blackshaw.