TWO goals from Danny Egan and another from Sam Cook helped Winsford United reach the table’s top six on Saturday.

Blues, victors now in three of their past four Premier Division matches, were more convincing winners than the score suggests.

But they found Silsden goalkeeper Daniel Thorpe in inspired form.

He was kept busy from the moment Cook called him into action inside 12 seconds.

Egan headed wide and Lee Duckworth’s free kick sailed over, while at the other end a mix-up between full back Liam Baker and custodian Lewis Moston left Christopher Wademan with an open goal.

However he shot wide from outside of the penalty area.

Thorpe saved smartly to deny new Winsford recruit Danny Hudson, then Silsden scored first after quarter of an hour when Wademan’s effort crept in off an upright.

An equaliser followed on 30 minutes, when Egan met James Rothwell’s free kick with a powerful header.

Blues, now in control, established a deserved lead before the break when Egan punished a defensive error by firing in Gavin Ellison’s cross.  

A third goal almost followed only for Cook, served by Kyle Riley, to see his attempt blocked.

Silsden were sharp at the start of the second period, prompting Moston to dive to his left to parry Aaron Hollindrake’s drive in spectacular fashion.

Instead Winsford scored next, Cook lobbing a stylish finish over Thorpe after capitalising on hesitant defending by the hosts.

Hollindrake swerved another effort from distance past an upright, but Blues continued to create chances; Rothwell, Baker and Riley were all left to curse Thorpe for thwarting them.

Silsden sneaked a second before full time, when substitute Craig Nicholls swept past Moston after running onto a ball lofted over the visitors’ backline.

But Rob Byrne’s men, boosted by the return of midfielder Alfred Hammond following a trial at Sheffield United in the week, protected their advantage for the remainder.

Silsden | Thorpe (GK), Jalil (Elliot 85), Crabtree, Nettleton, Ryan, Mitchell, Broderick (Craig Nicholls 63), Ndlovu, Hollindrake, Wademan, Dale (Smith 80) Subs not used Morris, Butterfield Goals Wademan 15, Nicholls 88 Booked Smith

Winsford | Moston (GK), Baker (Eiselt 85), Duckworth, Jon Jones, Hammond, Ellison (Jack Nicholls 75), Rothwell, Egan, Kyle Riley, Cook, Hudson (Michael Jones 63) Subs not used Sam Riley, Clarke Goals Egan 30, 41 Cook 57 Booked Ellison

Referee Colin Whittaker

Attendance 96

Additional reporting by Bob Astles