SILSDEN have reached the FA Cup first qualifying round for the first time in 20 years, and joint-boss Matt Cavanagh has few complaints after what looked like being a tricky first month of the season.

They have beaten higher-tier opposition in the cup in Liversedge and Atherton Collieries, while they have won two of their three Bradford District derbies in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, against Campion and Thackley, then drawn the other with Albion Sports.

The Cobbydalers remarkably kept clean sheets in all five of those matches, meaning the only real blot on their copybook so far came in a 3-1 league defeat at Tadcaster Albion, where they played most of the game with 10 men.

Cavanagh was complimentary of Saturday’s brilliant 2-0 FA Cup win over Atherton in particular, saying: “You always have a look at the draw initially and when you see they’re both step four sides, you think you’re going to be up against it.

“But I felt we deservedly beat Liversedge and I thought we were outstanding against Atherton.

“It was probably the best we’ve played for a long time, we were organised, clinical and it should have been more if I’m being honest.

“Atherton have only just come down from step three, so it was always a tough ask, but we did well and now I suppose it’s about trying to maintain this form.”

Cavanagh won’t get too giddy about Silsden’s FA Cup progress, despite them reaching the qualifying rounds for the first time in two decades.

Asked how far the Cobbydalers could go, he said: “I suppose everyone looks forward to the FA Cup, but for us, the competition is more about what you can give back to the club, with the income you generate.

“We’ve had two wins, so we’ve done well on that front, and moving forward we’ve got West Didsbury & Chorlton, a team from Manchester, in the next round.

“I know them well from when I played against them for Barnoldswick Town, they’ve got a good set up there and there’ll be a big crowd for our cup tie.

“They play at step five like us, so it’s definitely a winnable game, but we’ve got to respect them as it’ll be tough.

“If we can get through, hopefully we’ll draw a big name, home or away, in the second qualifying round.”

As for Silsden’s largely positive start to the campaign as a whole, Cavanagh reflected: “We’ve had a large focus on not leaking goals, because we conceded too many last season.

“From the six league and cup games we’ve had so far, we’ve kept five clean sheets, which is fantastic for the group.

Kayle Price cracks home Silsden's second goal on the way to their superb 3-0 win over Thackley earlier this month.Kayle Price cracks home Silsden's second goal on the way to their superb 3-0 win over Thackley earlier this month. (Image: Gary Lohan.)

“It’s not just the defence and goalkeeper, it starts from the front, and every player has bought into how we want to go about things, with us doing the basics very well at the minute.”

Discussing the league specifically, Cavanagh said: “I think we’ve been stung a little by the fixtures, trying to raise your performances in local derbies consistently within the space of a two-week period was tough.

“Liversedge was a local derby in the cup, Tadcaster isn’t too far away, then we’ve already had to face Campion, Thackley and Albion.

“The Albion game last Tuesday was very even and I think we were probably a yard off them at times.

“I thought we looked a little leggy and I believe that’s probably due to all the other fixtures beforehand we had to put ourselves though.

“Overall, I’m really pleased with the start, because we’ve taken points off all three of those derby rivals and they’re all very good sides.”