Winsford United 2 Silsden 2
IN a nail-biting finish the Blues saved a point with an 89th minute strike by Les Miranda and they probably just about deserved a share of the spoils.
To their credit they twice came back from a goal behind and although this wasn’t a vintage performance it was evidence of their never-give-up attitude.
The first half was pretty even with both sides creating openings but the defences held firm and they went into the break scoreless. Early efforts by Les Miranda and Lee Madin failed to find the target and Tony Sayer’s 19th minute shot was spilled by goalkeeper Martin Foulger but he recovered before Miranda could pounce. Two minutes later Silsden had their first real chance when a block by Dave Ridler foiled Lee Reilly. Winsford found themselves under sustained pressure for long periods of the first half and two saves by Michael Langley foiled Martin Packer. On the half hour mark a last ditch tackle by David Barnes saved the situation when Lee Reilly looked certain to score. Further efforts by Andy King also threatened but proved fruitless.
The second half started in the worst possible fashion when a mix-up between Langley and his defenders presented Reilly with an easy goal. Lee Madin had replaced the injured Phil Mason and he made his presence felt on 52 minutes when it required a timely interception by keeper Martin Foulger to prevent him scoring. Winsford came much more into the game as the match progressed and on the hour mark Miranda was unlucky to see his looping header cleared off the line. Efforts by Mischa Showers and Darren Connell were wide of the target but it looked as if the hosts had saved a point when Madin converted on 85minutes following a goalmouth scramble. However, the visitors were not finished and 2 minutes later a move down the right resulted in a low cross that Packer steered home at the far post. It looked as if all was lost but in the last minute Chris Sheppard chased what looked to be a lost cause down the left and after rounding the fullback crossed the ball into the box for Miranda to score his 17th goal of the season. The defence didn’t look as certain as it had in recent games but they stuck at it and left Silsden rueing two dropped points.
WINSFORD: Langley; Barnes, Callaghan (Connell 71), Ridler, Duckworth; Bluck, Sayer, Sheppard, Kennedy (Showers 51); Miranda, Mason (Madin 12).
Att: 117
