Report

Pudsey hosted Silsden A in the second round of the league cup in bright sunshine at Grangefield School. With Silsden second in the first division with games in hand and unbeaten in the league since September Pudsey knew it would be a tough game and would provide an indication as to how much progress the team had made this season.

The team lined up for the start with a five man midfield leaving Kieron alone up front. Silsden were quick on the ball but Pudsey were able to match them with hard work and good shape. The early chances went Silsden’s way and they had a goal ruled out for offside on 7 minutes before hitting a shot against a post two minutes later. Pudsey didn’t take long though to settle down to the new formation and solid tackles from Liam, Jonny and Sam Swales across the middle of midfield meant that Pudsey were able to compete evenly with their higher league opponents. Without creating any really good chances Pudsey were causing a few problems for Silsden by chasing through balls down well in the Silsden half with Sam Conquest and Tom Baran looking to support Kieron and their keeper was having to be careful when clearing balls bobbling about in the cross wind. On 28 minutes Josh Whittles was called upon to produce an excellent save from a header as his quick reactions tipped the ball over the bar. As half-time approached so did the late arriving Subhaan but we still waited for a goal in this tight affair. HT 0-0    

Subhaan was introduced up front for the second half but Silsden were doing most of the attacking and Josh made a good save on 45 minutes when turning a shot over the bar and again he was on call to come off his line and collect a ball down at the strikers feet five minutes later. The Pudsey defence of Alex, Adam, Jamaal and Josh Smith was holding firm and when they were beaten on 60 minutes Josh Whittles was in great form once more with a fantastic one-handed save down to his right. Joe Quirke and Tom Gormley came on and slotted straight in as Pudsey pushed for extra time as the game entered the last ten minutes. In the cruellest twist of fate it was a Pudsey player who finally beat Josh Whittles with eight minutes left when Josh Smith turned a cross into his own goal as he looked to clear. One goal separated the teams as the game entered injury time and Silsden were only able to breathe easily when the ball dropped in the box from a corner and was turned in with less than a minute left for a two-goal advantage. FT 2-0 

The season had ended with another very good team performance. Man of the match this week was Josh Whittles who pulled off some outstanding saves, made more remarkable when considering that he had split some of his fingers and only got them glued back together less than two weeks earlier.

The Craven, Aire and Wharfe League Secretary, Mike Breeze and the Results Secretary, Fred Watson presented all the team with individual medals and Josh Smith with the Division 16C Shield after the game to mark the end of what had been a very successful season. Well done to all the players for winning the league and to all the spectators for their support.