By Liam Price
The Dabbers are headed back to a similar part of Yorkshire as the last round of the FA Trophy, as we travel to Silsden on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Am I Still Sils?
Silsden have had an interesting couple of weeks. Their cup pedigree this season is without question. They took Bootle to a replay in the FA Cup, losing 4-2 eventually in Merseyside. And in the last round of the FA Trophy they knocked out Atherton Collieries 1-0 at home.
But there is an elephant in the room here. Last Saturday they lost 10-1 in the league away at Redcar Athletic. They were 3-0 down after 9 minutes and were already 5 down by the time they had a player sent off 8 minutes before half time. However, after that historically bad day they picked up a creditable 1-1 draw at play-off side Bridlington in midweek. That leaves them just outside the relegation places in 18th in the NPL East, a place below our last FA Trophy opponents Ossett.
They were promoted to the NPL system after winning the NCEL Premier Division last season, making this their first ever season in the FA Trophy as it is their first ever season in the modern 8th tier, 121 years after being formed.
Last Time We Met
This is the 5th ever game between the two sides. We shared the same division for two seasons between 2005 and 2007, with Silsden winning 1 0f those games and the Dabbers winning the other 3. But it will be the first ever trip to their current ground, the Regal Interiors Stadium. (Thanks to Retro Dabbers for the info).
Click below to watch highlights of our last game in the FA Trophy, the 3-1 win at Ossett United.
Players to Watch
Kayle Price is Silsden’s number 9 and has been banging in the goals consistently from the start of the season, as recently as this midweek. He was also responsible for the only goal in the last round as Atherton were beaten.
Isaac Robinson is a young winger previously on the books of nearby Bradford City. And they made a couple of other signings before the Bridlington game in Alhassane Keita and Lennon Kerry.
Centre back Jorge Sikora has faced the Dabbers before for FC United of Manchester, as has Jake Cassidy for Guiseley. Jake Maltby played against Nantwich for Hyde in the Cheshire Cup last season. Finally, Jerome Greaves scored for Bishop Auckland against the Dabbers in the FA Trophy last season and has also faced us for Matlock.
Match Information
Tickets are on the gate, priced at £10 for adults, £7 for concessions, £3 for U16s and free for U11s.
Supporters coach tickets are still available at £15 each, get yours HERE. The coach will depart the Swansway Stadium at 10.45am.
If you’re going by car, then the route is almost the same as it was for Ossett. M6, M56, M60, M66, A56, M65, A6068 and A529 is the quickest route, and should take a couple of hours.