Glossop North End 1 Ramsbottom United 4

Glossop North End have slipped to 5^th in the North West Counties Premier Division after losing 4-1 to top of the league Ramsbottom United at Surrey Street.

Sam Hind opened the scoring for the Hillmen but four goals in the second half gave Ramsbottom a deserved win.

The game began in blustery conditions at Surrey Street but the players weren’t letting it affect the game, Michael Morrison saw his early shot creep just wide of Ashley Frith’s goal.

North End grew into the game and came close to opening the scoring when Darren Hamilton played in Hind but the striker scuffed his effort wide.

It was Glossop who did open the scoring on the stroke of half time.  Ramsbottom failed to clear an Adam Oakes corner and the ball fell to Hind on the edge of the area who smashed it past Grant Shenton in the Ramsbottom goal.

United were a changed side in the second half and were playing with much more fluidity and direction.  Frith was called into action early after the interval, saving well from a Grant Spencer spot-kick.

The Glossop keeper was unable to prevent the equaliser however, Jon Robinson was on hand for a simple tap in after Ian Flannery’s header bounced back off the bar.

Ramsbottom took the lead ten minutes later when Spencer beat 3 North End defenders and squared it across the goal to Morrison who had a simple tap in to score United’s second.

The game was effectively over in the 90^th minute when substitute Kieron Pickup reacted quickest after Frith made another impressive save.

Salt was rubbed into the wounds of the Glossop side when Robinson grabbed a flattering fourth goal after rounding Frith.

The Hillmen must now put the result behind them as they go back on the Wembley trail as they face Runcorn Town at Surrey Street on Saturday.  

Team: Frith, L.McGregor (Bradburn), Allen, Morrison, Lugsden, Rothwell, Heaton (Streets), Oakes, Hind, Hamilton, D. McGregor (Elliot)
Subs not used: Yates, Jones

GOAL : Sam Hind of Glossop North End volleys the ball home from 12 yards to make it 1-0.
Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

North West Counties Football League chairman Dave Tomlinson presents Jason Gorton of Glossop North End with the player of the month award for October. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Billingham Town 2 Glossop North End 4

The Hillmen will be in the draw for the 3^rd round of the FA Vase after overcoming Billingham 4-2 in an exhilarating game at the Bedford Terrace Ground on Saturday.

Glossop were considered underdogs for the game but emerged victorious courtesy of first-half goals from Sam Hind and Darren Hamilton, and two late goals, one each from Alex Elliot and Daley Rothwell,  gave North End a well-deserved victory.

The away side began spritely dominating possession early in the match and looking the more threatening of the two teams from the start.

An army of over 100 travelling supporters for Glossop were in good voice for the game and were rewarded on 17 minutes when Sam Hind opened the scoring. The in-form Striker latched onto a ball sent over the top of the Billingham defence by Lee McGregor.  Hind rounded the goal-keeper and side-footed home from a tight angle.

The supporters were sent into pandemonium once again only five minutes later when Hamilton glanced home a Steve Heaton corner which sparked songs of ‘Hammy for England’ from the stands as the supporters were rubbing their eyes in amazement after a brilliant start from their side.

Billingham will have been disappointed with their performance in the opening 45 minutes and came out after the interval a different side, immediately challenging a previously unused Ashley Frith to make two saves in quick succession.

The home side were now on top and it was only a matter of time before they pulled one back. Kelvin Lugsden struggled to clear the ball from a corner and his clearance ricocheted against Jamie Owens into the net, giving the home fans the goal they craved.

Glossop looked stunned and struggled to regain their composure, which led to them conceding the equaliser not long after Billingham’s first.  Michael Dunwell let the ball run across his body and half-volleyed past a stunned Frith in the Glossop goal.

The game was on a knife edge and possibly turned in North End’s favour when substitute Rothwell was lucky to avoid dismissal when his rash, two-footed tackle on the half way line resulted in a yellow card.

The winner from Elliot came with 5 minutes to play when Hamilton’s cross from out wide was diverted goalwards by Elliot and deflected off a Billingham defender before finding the back of the net. The goal sparked wild scenes amongst the Glossop fans and management alike.

Victory was assured by substitute Rothwell in the 93^rd minute. Billingham had committed men forward looking for a late equaliser and Tom Streets broke with the ball and crossed to Rothwell who had a simple tap in to confirm Glossop’s place in Monday’s third round draw.

The Hillmen will now be looking to take confidence from the victory into their next game when they take on Ramsbottom United at Surrey Street in the league on Saturday.

GOAL : Sam Hind of Glossop North End scores the opening goal of the game from a tight angle. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Steve Heaton, Adam Oakes and Sam Hind celebrate with Alex Elliott of Glossop North End in front of the GNE fans after scoring to make it 3-2.
Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End 0 Pinxton 1

An under-strength Glossop side were beaten 1-0 by lower league Pinxton at a bitterly cold Surrey Street on Wednesday night.

Many first team players were rested for the game and the Hillmen were unable to score past ten men.

It was a disappointing first half for North End, a scuffed shot from Daley Rothwell and a Danny Jones shot that went just wide being the only highlights.

The game was very scrappy and the tackles were thick and fast. Sean Gregory, for the away side, was the main culprit and swiftly found his way into the referees card book and was far from popular with the home supporters.

It was pantomime villain Gregory who scored the only goal of the game after the restart. Gregory broke clear of the North End and slotted the ball expertly into the bottom corner of Steve Dryden’s goal.

The Hillmen immediately went searching for an equaliser and Pinxton became increasingly desperate in their defending.  With ten minutes remaining, Pinxton were down to ten men after Frazer Thomas was dismissed for a two footed lunge on stand-in captain Daniel Yates.

The 11 men of Glossop were unable to break down a resilient Pinxton side in the final stages of the game.   A snap shot from Rothwell was the only time Dave O’Hare’s goal looked under any threat.

After the resting of many of the first team players, the Hillmen are expected to put in a good performance as they travel to Billingham Town in the FA Vase 2^nd round on Saturday.

Team: Dryden, Dos Santos, Dunn (Bamber), Bagwell, Yates, Rothwell, Bradburn, Streets, D Jones, D McGregor (Marshall), Pearson
Sub not used: Deakin

Daley Rothwell of Glossop North End attempts to weave through the Pinxton defence. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Stone Dominoes 1 Glossop North End 3

The Hillmen boosted their title chances by overcoming a resilient Stone Dominoes side 3-1 on Saturday.

Goals from Steve Heaton and Sam Hind helped Glossop come away with all three points from the Springbank Stadium.

The game began well for North End, with the away side dominating possession and opening the scoring after 13 minutes. Hind pressured Dominoes keeper Dave Dyson into scuffing his clearance and Heaton struck the ball first time from 35 yards.  Dyson and his defenders could only watch the ball sail over their heads and nestle in the back of the net.

The Hillmen weren’t intent on sitting on their lead and continued to push for a second goal. Glossop’s pressure paid off only four minutes later when Hind headed home a superb cross from Darren Hamilton and North End looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory.

Complacency followed the half time interval because Dominoes pulled a goal back moments after the restart.  Nathan Southern escaped his marker in the area and drilled home a Wayne Teague cross.

Dominoes were now buoyant and looked threatening in attack. The Hillmen, however, withstood the brief spell of pressure from the home side and began to dominate the game again.

The game was put beyond doubt five minutes before the final whistle courtesy of an own goal from substitute Matthew Bradbury.  An in-swinging cross from Steve Heaton could only be diverted into his own net by Bradbury and the game was effectively over.

North End now face a visit from Pinxton in the Derbyshire Senior Cup on Wednesday night at Surrey Street.

GOAL : Sam Hind of Glossop North End heads home Steve Heaton's cross from close range to make it 2-0 at Stone Dominoes. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End 3 Atherton LR 1

Adam Oakes of Glossop North End scores from the penalty spot to make it 2-1 against Atherton LR. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End 0 AFC Liverpool 0

The fireworks were put on hold at Surrey Street as the Hillmen failed to take all three points from a struggling AFC Liverpool side.

It was as frustrating afternoon for Glossop who couldn’t convert any of their chances against bottom of the league Liverpool who went away with a deserved point.

The game began slowly for both teams with very few chances being created. An early penalty appeal from captain Jay Gorton was waved away from the referee before Alex Elliot’s shot flew over the bar.

Steven Corris also nearly opened the scoring but his ambitious effort from 25 yards out whistled past Ashley Frith’s post in the Glossop goal.

The half time interval came as a welcome break for both players and supporters who struggled through a disappointing opening 45 minutes.  The second half was much more lively and there was chances at both ends. Carl Furlong nearly found the back of the net for the away side but his effort crashed back off the bar.

North End looked most threatening from set plays, Gorton seeing one of his headers cleared off the line from a Steve Heaton corner. With momentum building for the Hillmen, the woodwork was once again left shaking after Gorton rose highest again, but the midfielder saw his header bounce back off the bar.

The game was much more of a spectacle as it reached its conclusion with both sides going for the victory. Firstly Nick Allen saw two of his efforts go just wide before a clearance off the line from Sam Marshall followed by a brilliant save from Frith saved the Hillmen a point.

North End nearly snatched all 3 points with the final touch of the game. An in-swinging corner was met by the head of Kelvin Lugsden in the 6 yard box but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

Glossop will now have to get back to winning ways as they will be looking to take maximum points against Atherton LR at Surrey Street on Wednesday night.

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

AFC Liverpool goalkeeper Josh Molloy looks on anxiously as Jason Gorton of Glossop North End's header rattles the AFC Liverpool crossbar.
Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Left: Supporters' Club chairman Tim Barnett presents Jason Gorton with the player of the month award for October. Right: Howard Groves presents Ashley Frith with the man of the match award against AFC Liverpool on behalf of 'Friends of Glossop North End'. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Winsford United 1 Glossop North End 1

Glossop North End captain Jason Gorton is mobbed by team mates after scoring his late equaliser at Winsford. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood