Glossop North End 1 Maine Road 1

Glossop North End fell behind in the race for promotion after drawing 1-1 with Maine Road at Surrey Street on Boxing Day.

The Hillmen struggled against a determined Maine Road side, who struck a 90^th minute equaliser, and now lie 4^th in the table, six points behind leaders Bootle but have two games in hand.

Recent signing Ben Proctor was called into action early for North End, saving Rob Brocklehurst’s effort at the back post.

There were very few chances in the first half but the game could have changed if Glossop were awarded an early penalty. Captain Jay Gorton was obstructed in the area, but the referee waved away the appeals from the home side.

The second half was filled with much more action and Gorton was once again involved, seeing his early header from a Steve Heaton corner fall agonisingly wide. Proctor was once again called into action after the interval, frustrating Brocklehurst for a second time by saving low after the striker broke clear of the Glossop defence.

The Hillmen broke the deadlock after 77 minutes after excellent work on the wing from Alex Elliot led to a cross which found Sam Hind at the back post. Hind controlled his header and the ball dropped into the side of the net to give North End the lead.

Glossop looked to be heading for their third straight victory in the league but Maine Road’s James Rothel had other ideas. Rothel was well placed after a cross was cleared by the North End defence and he rifled home a volley from the edge of the area. It was a strike that could prove costly for the Hillmen as they push for promotion at the end of the season.

Glossop now face two tricky away games as they travel to Alsager Town and Silsden in the next two weeks where they will be looking to gain a maximum of six points and apply pressure to the teams above them.

Team: Proctor, L.McGregor, Allen, Dickinson, Lugsden, Gorton, Heaton, Oakes, Hind (Morrison), Hamilton (Rothwell), Elliot (Streets)
Subs not used: D.McGregor, C.Jones

Sam Hind of Glossop North End turns to celebrate after opening the scoring against Maine Road. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

North End confirms Evo-Stik ambition

With the deadline for applications approaching, Glossop North End AFC can confirm that they have submitted the relevant paperwork to the FA to apply for promotion to the Evo-Stik Division One - non-league’s step 4 - should they win the North West Counties League.

The news will delight fans who have seen Paul Colgan’s team rise to 4th in the table, with recent impressive wins against title challengers Runcorn Town & Barnoldswick town re-igniting excitement following an upsetting FA Vase exit.

Colgan was also delighted with the board of directors decision to apply - “ we’ve reached the half-way point in the league programme and we have done well lying in a top five position with victories over other title challengers in the last two games. Everybody associated with the club is behind us. “

“We have confidence in the players and the backroom staff and have demonstrated that with the reserve team set up we have that we have cover in case of injuries. We have as good a chance at winning this league as any other team in the top five or six positions and we are looking to continue the momentum into the second half of the season with everyone working hard together to push for promotion. Our support has made the difference in matches so far this season so we would look for our supporters to continue to get behind us and make their voices heard as we work to push on and consolidate the excellent start we have made”

Commenting on the decision to apply, Chairman Dave Atkinson said “With new facilities in place and more ground development to come, we feel that we are in a better position off the pitch than we were when we last put in a promotion application 3 years ago. On the playing side we have a management team with experience of working at a higher level and this can only be to our benefit. Gaining promotion from any Step 5 league is never easy but we look forward to the challenges which will come in the next four months and face the future with confidence."

North End will have to win the league to be promoted. They are currently sitting 4th, four points behind leaders Bootle, but with a games in hand. After a few years of runaway leaders stifling the end of season tension, the battle for the North West Counties League, and a promotion place, promises to be a thrilling one. First up for the Hillmen as they continue their challenge is a home game against Maine Road on Boxing Day, followed by a trip to Alsager Town on January 2nd.

Glossop North End 2 Barnoldswick Town 1

The Hillmen have laid down a marker in the North West Counties League after beating 2^nd in the table Barnoldswick Town 2-1 at Surrey Street on Saturday.

Two goals in the second half from Jay Gorton and an impressive goal from Daley Rothwell secured victory for North End in a crucial top of the table clash.

It was a lively start to the game from Glossop, seeing two early efforts cleared off the line by a well-placed Shaun Clough.

Darren Hamilton also nearly opened the scoring for the Hillmen, watching his effort ricochet back off the post after good work down the left from Sam Hind set-up the experienced striker.

Glossop dominated possession in the first half and will have been frustrated not to have taken a lead into the half time interval. Their control of the play continued after the restart however, and the deadlock was broken when Rothwell broke through the Town midfield and unleashed an effort from 30 yards.

Billy Carrington in the Barnoldswick goal got a hand to Rothwell’s effort but was unable to prevent the ball flying into the top corner.

The Hillmen’s lead was doubled only two minutes when an Adam Oakes corner caused confusion in the box and Gorton was on hand to scramble home a second for North End.

Glossop looked to be strolling to a comfortable victory when Barnoldswick pulled one back with ten minutes remaining. Substitute Liam Garbutt was on hand to volley home a cross that was nodded back down to him by Paul Fildes.

North End sat back and invited pressure from the away side and came close to conceding a late equaliser after Files was put through on goal but Glossop keeper Ben Proctor did enough to make the striker fire wide.

The Hillmen must now build on an important victory when the face Maine Road at Surrey Street on Boxing Day.

Team: Proctor, C.Jones, Allen, Rothwell, Lugsden, Gorton, Pearson (Marshall), Oakes, Hind, Hamilton (D.McGregor), Elliot
Subs not used: D.Jones, Streets, Dryden

Daley Rothwell of Glossop North End salutes the trenches after scoring from 30 yards out to make it 1-0. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End Supporters' Club chairman Tim Barnett presents Sam Hind with the player of the month award for November.
Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Runcorn Town 2 Glossop North End 3

Revenge is a dish best served cold and the Hillmen served up a thrilling 3-2 victory over Runcorn Town at a bitterly cold Pavilions Stadium on Saturday. A memorable 90^th minute winner from Sam Hind gave North End victory over the side that dumped Glossop out of the FA Vase only seven days earlier.

It was an eventful first half for North End goalkeeper Steve Dryden who gave away two penalties within the space of ten minutes. The first penalty was given after Dryden brought down Mark Keddie after the midfielder poked the ball away from Glossop Keeper.  Leading goal-scorer James McShane dispatched the penalty expertly to Dryden’s left.

The second penalty was won by Paul Shanley after being brought down in similar circumstances by Dryden, McShane stepped up once again but Dryden guessed correctly to his right and palmed the ball away.

The Hillmen struggled to create chances in the match but looked increasingly threatening as the game progressed. Marcus Morrison came on for Glossop in the second half and within ten minutes he grabbed an equaliser for North End. A Jay Gorton header was parried away from Karl Wills and Morrison was on hand to bundle home for his first goal this season.

Runcorn looked to have secured all three points when McShane volleyed home in the 81st minute after Jason Carey found him in the area. Morrison, however, pulled the scores level for the second time in the 88^th minute when he diverted home an Adam Oakes corner at the near post.

With the game poised it 2-2, it looked like the two teams would share the points but an unusually subdued Hind produced a wonderful strike to give all three points to the Hillmen. Captain Gorton nodded it down to Hind and the striker controlled the ball and lashed it into the top corner from outside the area.

Glossop are now fifth in the league table with games in hand over teams above them and face third placed Barnoldswick Town at Surrey Street on Saturday.

Glossop North End 1 Runcorn Town 2

It will be Runcorn Town in the draw for the next round of the FA Vase after overcoming Glossop 2-1 at a bitterly cold Surrey Street.

Jay Gorton opened the scoring for the Hillmen but two goals in the second half from Scott Burton and James McShane sent Town one step closer to Wembley.

The game began well for the home side with Glossop enjoying the majority of possession. North End made it pay on 13 minutes when captain Gorton converted Steve Heaton’s flicked on corner at the back post.

Glossop continued their dominance throughout the first half but failed to convert any of the opportunities that arose.  Chances came and went for the Hillmen with both Alex Elliot and Sam Hind both being frustrated, seeing their efforts fall the wrong side of the post.

Runcorn nearly levelled the scores on the stroke of half time after Jason Carey capitalized on a mix up between Ashley Frith and Kelvin Lugsden. The striker poked the ball goal-wards before Frith had time to gather but Carey’s effort rolled agonisingly wide of an empty goal.

Town were a much changed side after the interval but Glossop were once again left rueing missed chances when Elliot failed to test Karl Wills in the Runcorn goal with two free headers. The away side were level only minutes later when an adventurous Burton’s sweetly struck ball from 30 yards beat Frith at his near post.

Glossop were visibly rocked by the equaliser and conceded a second seven minutes later when Frith once again failed to communicate with his defenders. Frith was unable to collect a ball over the top of the North End defence and leading goal-scorer McShane nipped in-between Frith and Lee McGregor to put his team in the lead.

With Wembley becoming increasingly distant for the Hillmen, they committed men forward looking for a last gasp leveller. The most clear cut chance fell to Hind after being put through one on one with Wills but the Runcorn keeper saved well from the Glossop striker.

There were jubilant scenes from the Runcorn players and management alike upon the final whistle but the Hillmen have the chance of immediate revenge as the two sides meet in the league on Saturday.

Team: Frith, L.McGregor, Allen, Dickinson (Rothwell), Lugsden, Gorton, Heaton (Deakin), Oakes, Hind, Hamilton (Marshall), Elliot
Subs not used: Morrison, Bradburn

Jason Gorton of Glossop North End is congratulated by team mates after opening the scoring against Runcorn Town. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood