Sils edged out in Mid-Table contest

The thirds entertained Nottingham Players with a squad of 14 players, taking on a side one place, and 3 points above them in the league. With both teams occupying mid-table positions, all the players were keen to play a friendly but competitive match, and that is how the game unfolded.

Sils started the stronger side, and with good early running from Jack Morris, the home side won a Penalty Corner, and Richard Thurman crashed home the opener, with the ball creeping past the young visiting goal-keeper. However, the visitors soon raised their game, and without some resolute defending by Chris Smith and Andy Wing, and a couple of smart saves by Eamonn Jones, Players would have scored their equaliser earlier. However, it was not a surprise when they did score their first, and by half-time, they had made the score 3-1, with one goal slightly dubiously struck from the very edge of the D at a PC (suggestions, that it was perhaps outside....)

The Sils knew they were very much in this game, and just needed to raise their attacking intent a little, but the start to the second half did not start to plan, with Players scoring their 4th.

This, thankfully, stirred the home team into life, and with Sils regularly swapping and rotating subs sensibly in order to ensure plenty of running was done, the Sils began to force their way back into the game. 10 minutes later, and two trademark goals from Andy Rush, running at the defence and beating his man to then calmly slot home, meant with 9 minutes remaining, the Sils were very much back in it. It was by no means one-way traffic, and the Sils rode their luck as the Players' centre-forward hit the left hand post twice in the space of 5 minutes, and it looked like this good fortune might benefit the Sils as they pushed for their equaliser.

Unfortunately, the visiting defence did not concede again. Steve Leonard and John Scott both had gilt-edged chances, and their centre-back man-of-the-match made some desperate last ditch tackles to prevent a 4th goal for the home team which secured 3 points for the visitors.

Man of the Match for Sils went to James Ball for his energetic display, regularly making covering tackles and releasing the forwards.