SILSDEN were very well supported when they travelled to third-placed Garforth Town on Saturday, and rewarded those fans by coming away with a creditable 2-2 draw.

Young Jos Bradshaw put the Cobbydalers in front twice, but Daniel Coupland hit his own brace for Garforth, and his late penalty earned his team a point.

The Cobbydalers played with a very strong wind at their backs in the first half of this NCEL Premier Division clash, with the atrocious conditions and the uneven and unpredictable surface making it difficult for both sides to play slick passing football.

Silsden manager Danny Forrest rotated his outfit to give opportunities to other players in the squad in this game, the biggest call being bringing in Kyle Welsh to replace Sammy Lee in goal.

Garforth were soon on the attack, with Welsh denying Daniel Omosebi in the opening minutes and then tipping Charlie Marshall’s shot out for a corner.

Silsden soon began to take control, with Joe Mitchell setting up Finn Donovan, whose shot was wide of the target. When the move was repeated minutes later, Donovan’s shot was deflected out for a corner.

Despite the wind, Garforth’s short passing game created some half-chances, and Arley Barnes and Jake McEneaney were both forced to make timely interceptions.

The Cobbydalers almost took the lead on 14 minutes when leading scorer Jack Normanton was put through by Bradshaw.

Toby Wells dived at Normanton’s feet to smother the ball but he could do little three minutes later, when a flowing move involving Barnes and Carlton Pownall led to the opening goal from Bradshaw from 18 yards out.

There followed a spell when the wind made skilful football increasingly difficult, with only Kyle Hancock’s shot from forty yards out standing out.

Later in the half, a free kick for the home side created a problem, with Barnes having to head the ball clear of the goal area twice in a matter of minutes.

The last 10 minutes before the break belonged to Silsden, who created a number of chances.

Bradshaw saw a low shot tipped round the post before Donovan and Pownall created another opportunity for the striker, whose volley went marginally wide of the far post.

Mitchell then tested the keeper and Hancock’s shot cleared the Garforth crossbar.

The wind increased at the start of the second half and Garforth were guilty of over-hitting their passes.

The Cobbydalers almost punishing that by doubling their lead, but Normanton had strayed offside.

Garforth put Silsden under pressure after that but Barnes and McEneaney both denied the opposition forwards.

Just as Silsden had had a period of domination in the first half, so did Garforth here.

They were twice denied by excellent saves from Welsh before skipper Coupland levelled the scores.

But the teams were only level for five minutes before Bradshaw netted his second, after a break from Brad Riley and Normanton.

Normanton then saw a rising effort clear the bar before the Cobbydalers were forced on to the defensive as Garforth brought on substitutes who added height to their front line.

The home side’s pressure eventually told when a foul in the area led to a penalty.

Coupland netted his second from the spot-kick, hitting the ball into the bottom corner.

The Garforth skipper almost made it a dramatic hat-trick, but shot wide just as the final whistle went.

This coming Saturday, the 13th-placed Cobbydalers entertain sixth-placed Staveley Miners Welfare.