1874 NORTHWICH had played close to 100 times since their previous stalemate in a North West Counties League game.

That was the outcome at Silsden on Saturday and for now a side managed by Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison continues to occupy a position outside of the table’s top 10.

Callum Jakovlevs, the Cobbydalers’ goalkeeper, was prompted to beat away Jack Pritchard’s shot in the fifth minute after a free-kick landed at the visiting captain’s feet.

Scott McGowan, on target 11 times in his previous seven appearances, sent a shot wide of the target too.

Jack Irlam did the same, while at the other end 1874 custodian Tony Aghayere kept out long-range efforts from Arley Barnes and Luke Rhodes.

The second-half started with Silsden substitute Laurence Sorhaindo shooting narrowly wide and after an hour the same player’s header hit the crossbar from a corner.

Mark Jones screwed an attempt off-target from the edge of the penalty area from a Northwich flag-kick before Irlam ran clear on 75 minutes only to direct a weak finish straight at Jakovlevs.

The hosts’ net-minder saved well to thwart McGowan in the closing stages too.

1874, who host Squires Gate at Barton Stadium in a rearranged Premier Division fixture on Tuesday, remain 11th in the standings with seven matches left.

Silsden | Jakovlevs (GK), Moses, Everingham, Kaine, Illingworth, Bentham, Barnes, Mitchell (Townend 70), Rhodes (Sorhaindo 46), Kirby, Sultan (Wademan 66) Subs not used Hill, McKiernon Booked Mitchell, Bentham

1874 | Aghayere (GK), Connor, Russell, Pritchard, Meadowcroft, Irlam (Matthew Woolley 90), Koral, Jones, McGowan, Smith (Parker 87), Gardner (Kennerley 76) Subs not used Lee Jackson, Hind Booked Russell, Meadowcroft

Referee Ben Wyatt

Attendance 285

Match report by Garry Clarke