Sponsored by
Match preview: Silsden v FC Halifax Town
IT would have been far more satisfactory for FC Halifax Town to have got through to the first qualifying round of the FA Cup at the first attempt.
But Silsden fought hard and earned tonight's Cougar Park replay which means Jim Vince's side have to go again if they are to set up a trip to Northern League Ryton a week on Saturday.
There is no reason to believe that Town will not be successful this evening, after all they now know what it will take to get past their North West Counties opponents.
And the contrasting reactions to Saturday's goalless game at the Shay go a long way to revealing how the two teams might approach the replay.
Silsden were delighted to have got the draw to take Town back to Keighley.
The Shaymen were disappointed not to have finished the job at the first attempt.
If there is any thought in the home players' minds tonight that they have done the hard bit, Halifax ought to be able to capitalise.
How often in the past has a side from a lower division forced a draw in the first game of an FA Cup tie only to fail in the second game, with the higher ranked outfit making sure they do not repeat their mistakes.
Leek at Halifax in 2004, Town against Stoke in 2001 and against Reading two years earlier spring immediately to mind.
Town's biggest mistake was their failure to make the most of the chances they had when they came along.
Their inability to turn possession into something better than a second clean sheet has forced them to play again for the right to progress.
Silsden keeper Martin Foulger also played a part in that, especially with his late save from a Jonathan Smith shot that had winning goal written all over it.
If the Shaymen can just find a way through - and keep it equally tight at the back - they should be more than capable of seeing off their hosts this evening.
Email to a friend
Print this page- A58 crash UPDATE: road now re-open after man hit by car earlier this morning
- Crash on the A58 in Halifax this morning UPDATE: Man in hospital with several broken bones
- Taxi worker dies aged 35 after finishing his shift
- Man suffers serious injuries in accident on M62
- How the new Halifax Central Library will look
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Halifax
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
