Silsden 2 Bamber Bridge 1

The Cobbydalers gained their first win of pre-season, having lost their opening three friendlies.

The Northern Premier League visitors Bamber Bridge included recent signing Jamie Milligan, a former Everton, Blackpool and Fleetwood player, while ex-Blackpool and Leeds United striker, Brett Omerod, was on the bench.

Craig Nicholls gave Silsden the lead on just 37 seconds, when he intercepted a pass from Joe Booth to slide the ball under keeper Joshua Sambere.

The visitors were almost level on four minutes when Paul McKenna's free-kick struck Danny Thorpe's far post and the defence scramble it clear.

But Darren Green did level the score on nine minutes when he headed home Joe Booth's cross.

However, immediately after Nicholls restored the lead when he stole the ball off a defender and drove it wide of Sambere's desperate dive.

Bamber then put the Cobbydalers under intense pressure but they lacked a cutting edge, Booth shooting wide from a promising position and then being denied by Thorpe.

Silsden were more of a threat in the second half but Sambere, on several occasions, ran out of his area to clear the ball with forwards running clear. An overhead kick from Talent N'dlovu almost sent Nicholls clear.

Defences were on top but Bamber continued to seek the perfect goal. The Silsden youngsters matched the visitors with skill and composure. Daniel Haworth looked very comfortable in the middle of the park and both full backs, Brooks and Johnson Butterfield showed excellent awareness.

Joint-manager Danny Bolton was delighted with Silsden's display.

He said: “We looked more assured as the lads have got to know each other. All the hard work pulling this team together looks to be paying off, although it is still early days.

"The lads showed that they can perform at this level although there will be good and bad days but at the moment I am delighted with the progress we have made.”

The Cobbydalers should be playing Brighouse Town on Wednesday but they have pulled out.

The final pre-season game is on Tuesday, August 4 when Eccleshill United are the visitors to the Angel Telecom Stadium, though the club may squeeze in another game.

SILSDEN: Thorpe, Brooks, Butterfield, Ryan, Brown, Mitchell, N'dlovu, Haworth, Nicholls, Turner, Smith, McNulty, Guilfoyle, Dunne, Metcalfe.

* Silsden lost a third consecutive friendly against North East Counties Premier outfit Thackley, going down 2-1 at home against a side which included ex-Cobbydalers Kris Hargreaves, goalkeeper Ed Hall and goal machine Mike Garrod.

Despite the defeat, Silsden played some scintillating passing football, with the new young players showing great energy, skipper Joe Mitchell pulling the strings in midfield and the rock-solid Kev Ryan using his experience in central defence.

On 59 minutes, the visitors broke the deadlock when Joe Jagger’s through ball found the lively Tom Dugdale, whose crisp shot from just outside the box beat Danny Thorpe.

Silsden levelled when substitute Talent Ndlovu’s thread a right-foot pass to find Butterfield, who whipped in a great cross which Keiron Turner headed home.

However, a defensive mistake let in Garrod to net the winner for Thackley with two minutes left.