The Blues had looked to be in the driving seat at half time with the scores level at 2-2 and Silsden down to ten men but the home side reorganised well and dominated the second half to score the winner after 78 minutes. 

The game had begun well for Nelson who took the lead after only three minutes when Sam Heap and Ashley Higgins combined well on the right wing to set up Chris Ogunyode who side-stepped the keeper and a defender before slotting in a low shot off the far post. 

After 13 minutes, however, a fortuitous free kick just outside the Nelson penalty area gave Matthew Morgan the chance to level the scores with a well placed shot into the top corner of the net. 

Nelson might have regained the lead after 22 minutes when Michael Cheetham’s through ball released Ashley Higgins but he pulled his shot wide of the home goal.  One minute later, Silsden went in front when the ball broke from midfield for Adam Whiteoak who looked to be offside but was allowed to continue and score with a shot past Chris Thompson. 

Nelson continued to cause the home side problems with some good attacks and, on the half hour, Matthew Morgan was shown his second yellow card for another late tackle and sent off.  Silsden were clearly rattled by the decision and a Nelson equaliser always looked to be on the cards.  After 40 minutes, Marc Berry released Sam Heap with a high ball forward and Heap held off the defender and forced his shot past the keeper to level the scores at 2-2. 

In the second half, an early shot by Chris Ogunyode gave Nelson the hope of more goals but it was Silsden who took the upper hand.  Chris Thompson was soon in action as he did well to turn James Nettleton’s firmly struck free kick over his crossbar.  After 64 minutes, Thompson made an even better save to hold Joel Ettienne’s close range header on his goal-line. 

Nelson had rare glimpses of the Silsden goal and Michael Cheetham might have done better with the 20 yard shot that he blasted wide of goal after 72 minutes. 

Chris Thompson made another great save diving on his line to hold Martin Bland’s close range header and, within a minute, blocking Chris Simpson’s shot with his body inside the six yard box.  From the resulting corner however, Stephen Throup rose at the far post to send a looping header back across goal and into the net to give Silsden the lead at 3-2. 

As Nelson looked for an equaliser, Jonny Lomas blasted a good chance wide of goal and, when Marvin Bonny looked to have provided the perfect chance for Sam Heap with a defence-splitting through ball, Silsden keeper Daniel Thorpe managed to force the Nelson striker wide and deny him a clear shot. 

Nelson will be keen to put this setback behind them as they look forward to three home fixtures in a row, the first of which is against Runcorn Linnets on Saturday followed by Squires Gate next Wednesday evening.