SUNDERLAND RCA PROGRESS INTO NEXT ROUND OF THE VASE AFTER SILSDEN WIN

SILSDEN AFC 2 V SUNDERLAND RCA 4
FA VASE ROUND 1 PROPER @ THE ANGEL TELECOM STADIUM
31 OCTOBER 2015---3PM

SILSDEN AFC OVERVIEW

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Double second half strikes from Luke Proctor and Colin Larkin blew away North West Counties side Silsden in a 45 minutes that produced 6 goals following a goal less first half that was far from boring.  The end outcome may have been a little harsh on the home side who had contributed so much to this entertaining affair.
During the week this fixture was not featuring at all on the blogs list but a late review of the weekends fixtures on Thursday brought to light this enticing fixture against a north east side.  N.E. sides rarely fail to impress and bring along some cracking supporters too and today was no exception.

KEIGHLYE AND WORTH VALLEY RAILWAY STATION

The journey started from base station just before 10am with a change at Leeds with the electric train taking us through Saltaire and the famous mill town.  We had elected to depart at Keighley around three miles short of our ultimate destination.  A table was secured in the 'spoon's for the usual eats and soft drinks, there was hard drinks available but we declined!
The town had quite a few famous inhabitants including the former Welsh international Trevor Hockey who at one stage had tried to keep Keighley Town FC on the map sadly this disappeared and the town remains without a senior non league side.  Nearby attraction are Haworth home of the famous Bronte sisters and to the east Ilkley Moor for the windswept walks!
Upon departure from the train station the excellent Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has its terminus by the side of the main line platforms.  Today it was in quiet mode but certainly will be one to come back and spend some time exploring.  If your not happy with these pointers for a visit to the West Riding then Keighley is also home of Timothy Taylor Brewery which I'm sure will please a few.

RELAXING AFTERNOON IN SILSDEN...FOR THE DUCKS

Time had arrived for the trip to Silsden and we elected to take a local bus, 762, that was heading towards Ilkley before departing we passed through Steeton, managing to get a view of their neat ground which hosts West Riding League fixtures.
Silsden was a host to the Tour De France in 2014 when it graced Yorkshire and is also visited by the Leeds to Liverpool canal.  In the centre of the town the River Aire has a nice selection of ducks enjoying the facilities alongside families who are sampling the very busy local chippy, one to note for a re visit.
Not too much to see in the town centre but its a busy thoroughfare with I guess most things you could need if you resided there, the town is also home to the Ecology Building Society.

EYECATCHING NICE USE OF SMALL TEXT FOR THE 'RCA'

Silsden AFC is situated to the west of the town and very nicely within 10 minutes walking distance of Steeton and Silsden train station where we would elect to depart from at 5.30pm tonight.  The complex is developing nicely now with cricket, bowls and the football club on site-with a golf driving range bordering.
Silsden had spent a while away from the town playing in Keighley at Cougar Park but with funding in place and stacks of hard work from the group of supporters raising funds they finally moved back to Silsden in 2010 and their ground is looking smart and constantly receiving loving attention.
The clubhouse is a modern stone building with large bar and seating area,  The same building also boasts 6 changing rooms and following our circuit of the ground we spent a little time in here gaining the teams and partaking, Mick had time to get talking to a few people as ever enjoyed his time with some friendly people.

SILSDEN AFC A GROUND WITH A VIEW

Upon paying our entrance fee and following purchase of the programme [a nice effort with historical club information] we were warmly welcomed by officials from this friendly club.  Timing is all important in football and the blog was just there at the right time to capture a 2015 Silsden AFC team picture, what a great job the club photographer did of lining up the squad in a neat order too.

SILSDEN FA VASE 2015 SQUAD 

The ground is in a beautiful setting with Lancashire beckoning a few miles over the McNulty stand which is our first point of arrival occupants of this area are snuggly enclosed in a steep benched seat stand next along the walkway is the famous tea bar at Silsden.  It has to be said following the 'circuit' a cheese and onion pasty was sampled purely to be civil you understand!  To the side of the snack bar is a Atcost terrace stand for I guess 30 or so supporters.

STONE DUG OUTS HAVE YOU SEEN SMARTER?

Behind the far goal it is hard standing all the way which continues around to the far touchline with some lovely stone built dug outs, although the hard standing goes deep behind these taking you well away from the pitch.  Coming back to behind the goal at our entrance point and the new snack bar is being finalised with the moniker 'Touchline Kabin' appearing to be the chosen title.  Today work was continuing on the site which will also house external toilets to the ones currently in the clubhouse.  The club are hoping to open the buildings for their midweek cup game with Guiseley.

On the final part of our journey we were greeted by club Vice Chairman John Lohan who, as with all the people connected with Silsden we met today, is clearly proud of the club and the people involved in much of the hard work that has gone into getting the ground to its current nicely developed state.  We learned about the railing supports being produced by a local craftsman who had designed a mould for them, the restructuring of the stone dug outs and the floodlights being turned on for the first time and the forty rabbits who were scared off wondering what the heck was happening!  Alongside this the plans and hopes for the future, well John and Silsden AFC you are doing very well you have a very tidy ground with some lovely people.
Sunderland RCA [Ryhope Community Association] made the journey down to represent The Northern League and as ever their were quite a few fans accompanying them and they represented their club well and I think at the end of the afternoon had clearly enjoyed their day out in Yorkshire. 
One final bit of pre match info is Silsdden have one of the best nicknames in The Cobbydalers, the couple of people I asked didn't seem to sure about how this came about apart from that's what people from the town are known as, possibly something to do with cobblers in the town.

ROSS MCNAB BRINGS THE BALL AWAY FOR SUNDERLAND RCA

Kick off came around all too soon as more time could clearly have been spent admiring the lovely setting of this ground the surrounding hills were in a little mist today, something which sadly affects the blogs match pictures, but it was moody and showed lots of autumnal colour.
The first half finished goal less but how I'm not sure it could easily have been 5-5.  In the early stages Silsdens Craig Nicholls came in first from the left hand side of the box and then from the right but on both occasions giant visiting goalkeeper Jordan Harkness pulled off the save to deny the number 11.  At the other end Sunderland were also showing and Michael Charlton went closest with a curler that just went the wrong side of the woodwork. 

FIRTH [5] HEADER CLEARED OFF THE LINE

The game continued to produce a plethora of action when Elliot Firth saw his header cleared off the Sunderland goal line you started to wonder if your luck was out, 23 minutes.  One minute later and it was time for the visitors to create and when Stephen Callen broke through he looked odds on to score but home keeper Daniel Thorpe pulled off a cracking save to deny RCA.

OPENING GOAL CELBRATIONS FOR SILSDEN

The second half did though produce the goals with an opener on 53 minutes for Chris Wademan.  But the lead lasted just two minutes when Luke Proctor steered the ball home.
Proctor made it 2-1 with his back post finish on 75 minutes this after superb patient build up from Charlton.  It was 3 four minutes later when a fantastic deep cross from Kevin Gordon was headed home by Colin Larkin. 
The final 15 minutes of the game had showed a slight favour to the visitors who were looking a little stronger and from a neutral point of view I hoped Silsden would not collapse and thankfully they did not when on 88 minutes they made it 2-3 when Talent Ndlovu drove and 18 yard effort that Harkness got his hand to but could not keep out.

HARKNESS CLAIMS THE BALL FOR SUNDERLAND RCA

A nervous few minutes could have ensued if it not have been for a superb long ball out of the Sunderland defence saw Larkin race onto it coolly rounding Thorpe in the home goal to slot home, sending the visiting players into scenes of joy that signalled a round two appointment.
A crowd of 115 had witnessed this excellent open game of football that was a credit to both clubs and a game that was well officiated by referee Michael Ainsworth.  Silsden can feel themselves a little unlucky but in the last quarter of the game Sunderland pushed home their advantage and would have enjoyed their journey back home.
A neat little connection in Leeds saw the blog arrive back at base just short of 7.30 after what had been a very entreating afternoon out at a very accommodating club.  If you have not visited Silsden try to get along to see them you wont be disappointed if the welcome we received today is anything to go by.

333 ELECTRIC ARRIVES AT KEIGHLEY