Winning boost for improving Lions
ANDREW CROMPTON STOCKPORT Town secured their first win under Dave Wild following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Silsden in the Hallmark Security League on Saturday afternoon at Stockport Sports Village.
The Lions, who were reduced to 10-men for the second week in a row, maintained their unbeaten run under new boss Wild and move up the table to ninth as they look to mount a late playoff charge.
The home side almost got off to a flyer as Cameron Darkwah played in Johnny Hurst inside the first minute but the Town winger could get the ball under control as Silsden keeper, Callum Jacovlevs, came to clear.
Nicholas McNally then missed two glorious opportunities for Silsden as the striker was played through on goal but scuffed his show wildly wide. Then just minutes later he found himself inside the Town area but once again miscued and skied his volley.
The 18th minute saw Town midfielder Conor Downes try his luck from 30-yards out and his strike forced Jacovlevs into a good save.
Midway through the half Devlin received a yellow card for a late challenge, much to the defender’s disgust as he felt he got the ball first.
Just five minutes later Stockport’s Daniel Whiting came to his side’s rescue as the goalkeeper pulled off three saves in quick succession to deny Silsden and Daniel Illingworth taking the lead.
With 33 minutes on the clock Town capitalised on consecutive corners as Adam Stubbs rose highest inside the penalty area to guide his header into the far corner off the inside of the post to give his side the lead.
The second half saw Stockport go close to doubling their lead after Hurst’s shot was parried wide by Jacovlevs.
Silsden and their supporters were left stunned after Luke Taylor missed an open goal to equalise from five yards out.
Thomas Bane almost found a second of the match for the Lions but his curling shot was cleared off the line.
A few moments later and Downes went on a mazy run through the centre of the Silsden defence but failed to convert his shot leaving the away side still in the game.
The 71st minute turned the match on its head following Stockport’s missed chances as Devlin argued with the referee and the official raised a second yellow card to the centre-back.
Silsden took advantage of the extra man as Illingworth fired into the bottom corner past Whiting to bring the scores level.
Despite being a man light Stockport came together as a unit and began their hunt to retake the lead. Darkwah came close to putting his side in front but he could connect on the cross from five yards out.
Entering the final minutes of the match and Silsden’s Jacovlevs pulled off a world-class save to deny Stubbs a second goal, diving to his top right corner and tipping the ball over.
The home side piled on the pressure as the minutes ticked down and their patience was rewarded in the 87th minute as Daryll Grant popped up inside the area from a Town corner and volleyed the ball across goal and into the far corner for the winner.