AFTER a barren run with only two draws in the last five games, Silsden finally produced a superb performance to warm their supporters on a bitterly cold day by beating Handsworth 4-2.

Only two NCEL Premier Division games were completed on Saturday, so credit must go to the groundstaff at Keighley Road.

Visiting Handsworth, in fifth position, had beaten Silsden 4-2 on the opening day of the season, but the exact reverse happened here, as the hosts welcomed the experienced Dan Illingworth and Kyle Hancock back into the first team.

The Cobbydalers took the initiative from the kick-off, with Jos Bradshaw taking the ball down on his chest, before he was denied by a swift intervention from the visitors’ keeper Alfie Hayes-Daubney.

Two minutes later, Bradshaw burst up the right and crossed to Jack Normanton, who saw his effort strike the post. Mo Qasim hit the rebound over the bar.

The Ambers’ Jamie Austin then tried a speculative shot which Sammy Lee dealt with comfortably.

Soon after, Joe Mitchell set up Brad Riley, who hit a screamer into the top corner of the visitors’ net to make it 1-0.

Five minutes later it was 2-0, when a throw-in on the left found Bradshaw, who immediately sent Normanton clear to lob the ball over the visitors’ stranded keeper.

From the restart, Handsworth’s Richard Tootle sent Kane Reece through, but his shot cleared the Silsden bar.

However, the Cobbydalers’ confidence was growing.

Qasim crossed to Riley, who should have had a pop at goal, before Normanton burst up the wing and crossed to Bradshaw, who slid the ball to Qasim. His shot was cleared for a corner.

Eventually the visitors settled and created some chances.

Mitchell Dunne crossed from the right to Matthew Sykes, who attempted to curl the ball over Lee, but the Silsden keeper tipped the ball over.

Silsden’s next attack broke down and Austin chased a long ball, but Lee was out of his area in a flash to clear the danger.

A slick move down the right then led to a corner for the visitors. Illingworth cleared that before breaking down another attack with a crunching tackle.

As the half-time break approached, Bradshaw was just beaten to the ball by Hayes-Daubney, who conceded a corner.

Normanton curled the ball over and Riley got to it first to make it 3-0.

Matty Moses, who replaced the injured Jake McEneaney at the break, was soon breaking up the wing in the second half.

A superb cross into the box found Bradshaw, who made it four.

Arley Barnes then played a one–two with Riley, who hit his shot over the bar. Silsden were rampant at this point, with Hancock firing over moments later.

Hancock went off injured on 64 minutes and was replaced by Khurram Shazad, and it was around this point that the visitors threw caution to the wind.

A long ball over the Silsden defence was headed home by Reece on 70 minutes, before Lee made a fine save to deny substitute Leon Howarth.

The Ambers netted a second eight minutes later when Howarth curled the ball over Lee from outside the penalty area to make it 4-2.

Having conceded late goals in recent matches, the Cobbydalers had to dig deep to keep Handsworth at bay.

The hosts still created chances on the break, with both Qasim and Normanton going close, and they managed to close out a fine win with relative ease in the end.

This coming Saturday, the Cobbydalers are on the road, but only at near neighbours Thackley.