SILSDEN travelled to North Lincolnshire for their first game in three weeks against NCEL Premier Division leaders Grimsby Borough on Saturday, and earned a superb 3-3 draw.

Jack Normanton hit his fourth hat-trick in seven weeks for the Cobbydalers, as they came from behind three times to grab a point.

Grimsby looked the more threatening early on, and they got their reward by scoring a glorious opener on seven minutes.

Going all the way from back to front, Liam Higton found Adam Drury, who flicked the ball on to Jack Debnam.

He cut it back to Lewis Collins, who wrong-footed the defender and slotted home perfectly.

Sammy Lee then kept out a header from Grimsby’s Richie Burdett from close range, before Silsden earned a penalty after Lewis Gardner’s impressive run in the 16th minute ended when he was brought down in the box.

The penalty was converted by Normanton, who notched his 19th goal of the season.

Some fast and furious end-to-end football followed that equaliser, and it was Grimsby who retook the lead on the half-hour mark after they broke away.

Drury rolled the ball into the path of Debnam, who slammed his shot beyond Lee into the far corner to put his side 2-1 up.

Burdett’s header went just wide after a great move in the 43rd minute, and Silsden punished that miss in first-half stoppage time.

Brad Riley found Harry Thompson out wide and his cross was headed in by Normanton for the equaliser.

Silsden went on the offensive and dominated much of the second half.

Excellent play by Thompson ended in his shot just clearing the crossbar and Jos Bradshaw’s screamer from 20 yards out crashed against the Grimsby post.

However, the hosts broke away and forced a corner with 15 minutes to go.

Drury’s inswinger was not properly cleared and after a bit of a scramble, Thomas Hipwell slammed home to restore Grimsby’s lead.

Borough looked to kill the game off and just after their goal, Debnam smashed the ball against the crossbar from an improbable angle.

Normanton thought he had equalised soon after, but the effort was controversially disallowed for handball.

But Silsden got their leveller when Normanton fired in his third inside the final 10 minutes.

There was yet another twist when Silsden goalkeeper Lee got himself sin-binned in the 85th minute, meaning the visitors would finish the game with 10 men and an outfield player in goal.

Captain Arley Barnes took the gloves and was protected brilliantly by a resolute defence, as the Cobbydalers held on for a point, which saw them drop to 13th.

Next up for the Sils is a game at home to fellow mid-table side Winterton Rangers this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

BY ROB MARCHINI