Shirebrook Town 1 Glossop North End 3

Dreams of a repeat journey to Wembley are still alive for Glossop North End after they beat Shirebrook Town 3-1 in the FA Vase 2^nd qualifying round on Saturday.

Goals from Kelvin Lugsden, Sam Hind and Daley Rothwell see the Hillmen progress and they now face Blidworth Welfare in the first round.

The first half was filled with chances that neither side were able to take, Adam Oakes and Steve Heaton blazing over from inside the box for North End.   

Captain Jay Gorton also had a superb chance to open the scoring but his scuffed shot was saved well by Jason White in the Shirebrook goal.

A goal did come for Glossop on the stroke of half time courtesy of centre-back Lugsden. A corner was swung in from Oakes who found Lugsden unmarked on the edge of the six yard box and the defender powered his header into the back of the net.

Shirebrook were not disheartened however, regrouping at half time and dominating possession after the interval. Town were rewarded for their pressure and the equaliser came from the dangerous Julian Topliss.

Topliss was causing problems from the wing for the Hillmen and smashed the ball into the roof of the net after cutting inside.

After riding the brief spell of pressure from Shirebrook, North End went back on the offensive to try and find a winner and it was the recently introduced Sam Hind who found it. Darren Hamilton beat his man out wide and laid the ball back to Hind who drilled the ball home to a chorus of cheers from the faithful supporters.

Another substitute added a third for the Hillmen and Hamilton was once again the creator. Rothwell and Hamilton combined to get inside the Shirebrook box and Rothwell was composed enough to side-foot into the top corner.

Rothwell’s goal confirmed an impressive victory for North End who now turn their attentions back to league action as they travel to St Helens Town on Saturday 8^th October.

GOAL : Sam Hind of Glossop North End smashes the ball home from six yards to make it 2-1. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Colne 0 Glossop North End 3

The Hillmen scored three goals to take all three points from a drenched XLCR Stadium after beating Colne 3-0 on Saturday.

Goals from Alex Elliot, David Bradburn and substitute Luke Pearson settled the game for North End who leap into 2^nd place and are only a single point behind leaders Winsford United.

The players were tentative in the opening stages of the game as they got used to a soggy and rough pitch. Headers from Bradburn and Darren Hamilton were the only notable chances for the away side.

It was Hamilton who had the most clear cut opportunity of the afternoon, breaking clear of the Colne defence but seeing his side-footed effort crash back off the post.

It was early in the second half when Glossop broke the deadlock and once again Hamilton was influential. The experienced striker could only find the post again but Elliot was on hand to smash home from 6 yards out.

The second goal came courtesy of winger Bradburn who was on the end of a Hamilton corner.  Bradburn flicked the ball past Andrew Moore in the Colne goal.

The Glossop goal was rarely threatened in the second half as the home side struggled to attack up the slope of the pitch and the Hillmen were comfortable in defence.

The victory was assured in injury time by the recently introduced Pearson. The quick winger latched onto a ball across the box from Bradburn and had a simple finish at the back post.

North End now travel to Crilly Park on Tuesday night where they will face a struggling Atherton and will be looking to bring back three points to Surrey Street.

Luke Pearson of Glossop North End salutes the GNE supporters after scoring to make it 3-0 at Colne. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End 0 Runcorn Town 1

Glossop North End lost their first home league game of the season after they were beaten 1-0 by Runcorn Town on Saturday.

An unfortunate own goal from Kelvin Lugsden was the only goal of a feisty encounter at Surrey Street.

The game began badly for the Hillmen when injuries to Rob Hartshorne and Jamie Dickinson forced manager Paul Colgan to make two substitutions in the opening 15 minutes.  Rick Bailey came on for Dickinson who was involved in a nasty clash of heads which caused a wide gash above his eye and the youngster was taken to hospital for stitches. 

Hartshorne limped off with an ankle injury and was replaced by an always willing Sam Hind who immediately made an impact seeing his shot from a tight angle saved by the fingertips of Karl Wills in the Runcorn goal.

The away side also looked threatening towards the end of the first half, Emini Adegbenro watching his effort crash back off the post.

It was Runcorn who opened the scoring in added time at the end of the first half. A mix up in the Glossop defence led to the ball hitting the underside of the bar and deflecting into the back of the net off Lugsden.

North End’s best chance after the interval fell to Alex Elliot. The winger latched on to an in-swinging cross from Steve Heaton but could only divert his header onto the bar.

The Hillmen were piling on the pressure towards the end of the game but were unable to find an equaliser. Hind blazed over from a tight angle and had another cleared off the line by Darren Kinsey. Glossop battered down the Runcorn door but couldn’t find a way through and Town took all three points from Surrey Street.

North End now have a tough away trip to Colne on Saturday at the XLCR Stadium.

Sam Hind of Glossop North End shoots high of the target from close range. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

GNE Supporters' Club Vice-Chairman Dave Hampson presents Jason Gorton with the player of the month award for August. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End 4 Congleton Town 1

Glossop North End continue their fine home form after defeating Congleton Town 4-1 at a damp Surrey Street on Wednesday night.

The Hillmen battled the elements and emerged victorious courtesy of goals from Daley Rothwell, Sam Hind and Adam Oakes.

It was the away side however that conjured up the first opportunity of the match, Adriano Rigolioso watching his free-kick crash back off Joe Boyle’s bar.

North End opened the scoring after a good passing move led to Rothwell latching onto an Oakes lobbed through ball and slotting past Craig Vernon in the Congleton goal. The lead should have been doubled only moments later but Elliot could only divert his header wide.

Town were unfortunate not to pull level when Boyle’s crossbar was once again left shaking, this time after an effort from captain Jack Graham, and ex North End player Artjoms Butorins failed to convert the rebound.

The Hillmen did manage to double their lead just before half time and there was controversy surrounding who got the final touch. A corner from Oakes was flicked on by Jay Gorton and the ball found the net after glancing off a Congleton leg in the six yard box.

The Surrey Street faithful were grateful for half time cups of tea to warm them up and the opportunity to reflect on North End’s comfortable 2-0 lead.

The Hillmen then found themselves without their two goal cushion after conceding shortly after the interval. Oakes hacking down Congleton’s Daniel Doherty in the penalty area and Kurtis Gill dispatching the spot kick.

The home side had many chances to finish off the game in the second half. Substitute Sam Hind failed to convert a one on one with the keeper and the striker also saw one of his efforts just go over the bar.

A third did come for the Hillmen courtesy of Hind. The energetic striker diverted a Rob Hartshorne drilled cross past Vernon at the near post. The third goal extinguished any hopes of Congleton getting back into the game and ensured all three points for Glossop.

The game was capped with a fourth goal and it came from playmaker Oakes. Once again Hartshorne beat his man and sent a threatening ball across the box where Oakes was on hand to side-foot the ball into the net.

North End now look to keep their excellent home form going when they take on Runcorn Town at Surrey Street on Saturday.

Team: Boyle, McGregor, Allen, Rothwell (Bailey), Lugsden, Gorton, Heaton (Bradburn), Oakes, Hamilton, Hartshorne, Elliot (Hind)
Subs not used: Knowles, Dos Santos

GOAL : Daley Rothwell of Glossop North End slots the ball past Craig Vernon of Congleton Town to make it 1-0. Photo - GNE/Jim Lockwood