A poor opening 25 minutes cost the Millers any chance of securing a victory against Silsden the runaway league leaders, a side that they more than matched for the remainder of the contest.

After a run of three consecutive defeats was brought to an end with a point at home to Cammell Laird last weekend Calum Sykes mentioned in his programme notes that his side was approaching the game in positive spirits, but they were slow out of the blocks and ultimately that was to cost them the points.

Midfielder Sam Scott had been absent for some weeks with an ankle injury, but he made his welcome return in place of Matt German who had to be content with a place on the bench. Jack Beswick also returned to the starting line up as Sykes adjusted his tactics to face the challenge of a side that had won all of their league games so far.

The visitors took the lead with just 8 minutes on the clock, Dean Williams produced a fine save to keep out Joe Gaughan’s effort but Kyle Hancock slipped home the rebound. Six minutes later and Silsden doubled their lead, a long ball out of defence found Niall Sutton who jinked his way into a shooting position before firing past Williams. Things got better still for the visitors on 23 minutes when they added their third goal, a cross from the right headed home by Gaughan for
his fifteenth goal of the season.

At three goals down the Millers finally began to play, Pendlebury and Beswick making progress on the flanks and delivering crosses into the danger zones and the home side continued to look dangerous in wide areas. It was from such an attack that they pulled a goal back shortly after the half hour mark, Bobby Lofthouse swinging in a cross shot that Jacovlevs in the Silsden goal failed to deal with and it crept in to give the Millers hope. The half ended with the Millers continuing to press forward in their efforts to earn something from the game.

With ten minutes of the second half gone Sykes shuffled his pack, introducing Matt German for Sam Scott and the tactical change was immediately effective as the Millers began to dominate possession and it came as no surprise when they pulled a further goal back on the hour mark. German saw his initial shot saved by Jacovlevs but he regained possession before teeing up Warren Gaskin who slipped the ball between the keepers legs for the Millers second goal.

With time running out Dennis Sherriff and Callum Scott were added to the attack but the Millers could not find a way through and deep in injury time as they threw men forwards in search of the equaliser Silsden capitalised as they broke away and added their fourth goal through Craig Bentham.

While there were many positives to take from the game, not least the fact that the Millers more than matched a side now huge fsvourites to take the Division One title and secure promotion, Sykes side have now gone a worrying five games without a victory, a poor run of form that must be turned around quickly if his team are to challenge at the top end of the table in the remainder of the campaign.

Line up:

1. Dean Williams, 2. Chris Middleton, 3. Bobby Lofthouse, 4. Michael Jones, 5. Joe Armstrong, 6. Warren Gaskin (c), 7. Jordan Pendlebury (Callum Scott), 8. Sam Scott (Matt German), 9. Nathan Neequaye (Dennis Sherriff), 10. Arron Kirk, 11. Jack Beswick

Unused: Mark German

Att: 91