Glossop North End 2, Formby 0

Following the disappointment of FA Vase exit at Barwell the week before, it was back to league action for Glossop North End at Surrey Street on Saturday.

Both the home team and the visitors, Formby, were in need of league points but for rather different reasons. The Hillmen are looking to climb from their current mid-table position towards a place in the top four whereas Formby need points to improve from 20th in the league table.

On a sunny but cold afternoon, the first order of the day was a minute’s silence in memory of North End stalwart Steve Baran, who recently passed away.

The match started at a high tempo with nothing much to choose between the two sides. The only incidents of note in the first 25 minutes came from some deft touches by the Hillmen’s debutant striker, Andy Hurst. Hurst, signed recently from troubled Congleton Town, has been courted by teams higher up the football pyramid and the Glossop manager, Steve Young, has done well to obtain his services.

As the first period progressed North End began to gain the upper hand with a number of half chances going begging. On 35 minutes, this ascendancy was rewarded as Dave Young found space and time on the right hand side to deliver a pinpoint cross which was powerfully headed home by Hurst for a debut goal.

Formby came back strongly and went close to equalising following a corner on the right hand side. Just before half-time, North End captain Jay Gorton was penalised close to the halfway line for a clumsy tackle and shown the yellow card for his troubles.

The resultant free kick was quickly cleared by the Glossop defence and a flowing move through midfield led to a second goal as Hurst rounded Adam Judge in the Formby goal and coolly slotted in from the right side of the penalty box.

Formby started the second half in very lively fashion with the Hillmen conceding two corners in quick succession and a number of free kicks in potentially dangerous positions.The Glossop defence held firm and, as a result, nothing came from these opportunities.

At the other end of the park, on 53 minutes, a run across the 18-yard line by Alex Elliott led to a shot which was well saved by Judge. Two minutes later, a cross from the right-hand side was met at the far post by Darren Hamilton but his headed effort went just wide of the upright.

As the game continued, Formby continued to worry the Hillmen’s defence and, on 75 minutes, a shot from outside the area was well saved by Matt Cooper in the North End goal. By now, the Hillmen were restricted to a few breakaways which were effectively quelled by the Formby defence.

At the end of the match, credit must go to Glossop for securing the points but Formby never through the towel in and made North End battle to the end.

After the match, the family of Steve Baran were joined by directors, management, players and spectators in a small ceremony to honour the life of Steve and his contribution to Glossop North End Football Club.

Barwell 2, Glossop North End 0

The Hillmen left Leicestershire fuming about refereeing decisions that they felt caused their 2009/10 FA Vase adventure come to an end. Glossop were denied what looked a stonewall penalty for handball whilst a decision that the referee did give at the other end, knocked the stuffing out of the North End siege on the Barwell goal.

Glossop had an indication of Barwell’s intent when striker Adam Cunnington was late and high on Dave Young after 20 seconds, a challenge which ripped a hole in the full back’s sock. Cunnington would have been encouraged that he didn’t receive so much as a talking to for a tackle that would have been a yellow card at any other stage of the game.

Later, Cunnington would make a two footed challenge on David Morris, that again received no punishment, to the Glossop bench’s fury.

So after Gorton had hit the bar for Glossop and Julien forced a terrific save from Matt Cooper, it was probably no surprise when it was Cunnington who opened the scoring on 20 minutes. A cross came in from the right and, despite three Glossop players in the area, Cunnington rose unchallenged and headed into the corner.

Stung, Glossop tried to get forward, and Jamie Kay dipped a shot just over the bar and another attempted chip failed to clear the keeper. But it was an exchange of chances as Gorton headed just over his own bar whilst slipping and Charley should have hit the target six yards out, but his body shape ruined the chance.

Glossop had the advantage of the slope in the second half, and for 20 minutes they piled pressure on the Barwell goal, but just could not make that breakthrough. Gorton headed over and Bailey shot over twice. Young too had an effort too high. In the meantime there were eight Hillmen corners, as a goal looked inevitable.

On 58 minutes, Bailey picked the ball up 20 yards out and unleashed a wicked drive that crashed against the outside of the post and bounced to safety.

On 61 minutes, Oakes attempted a cross from inside the area that the Barwell defender stuck out an arm to block. The player was close to the ball, but with his arm outstretched it should have been a spot kick, but the referee said no. From the corner the ball dropped to Young, 25 yards out, and his drive was heading for the top corner, only to see the keeper push it wide.

Then came the moment that took the game away from North End. Rick Bailey tackled in the area, but the ball bounced off the player up onto the midfielders hand, his arms by his side. The ref saw this as deliberate, and gave and inexplicable spot kick, given what he had decided moments earlier. Charley took advantage of the kick that no-one appealed for and made it 2-0.

The blow took the wind out of the North End sails, and although Glossop pressed, Barwell stood firm, Glossop unable to make any inroads into the 18 yard box, all shots coming from outside of the area. North End felt aggrieved, and rightly so, as the crucial decisions had gone the home side’s way a crucial parts of the game.

Team – Cooper, Young, Kay, Lugsden, Yates, Gorton, Bailey, Morris (McNally), Elliott (Hodges), Hamilton, Oakes
Subs not used – Gotham, O’Brien

Glossop North End players observe a minute's silence in memory of Steve Baran before the FA Vase 3rd Round Tie at Barwell.
Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood