This was the game that almost never was, with unofficial word circulating in the morning that there was no way the game would be on do to a hugely waterlogged pitch – it only required official confirmation.  But the rain ceased and the wind blew and the game was on – meaning anxious calls to players to make sure they could still turn up!

That wind threatened to spoil the game though, and the first half was forgettable.  The sides cancelled each other out, and chances were at a premium.  For the Hillmen, Dave Hodges stood out from the outfield players, giving the Formby right back a torrid time, twice cutting back from the by-line after showing great pace, only for the ball to be agonisingly behind or in front of the striker.

At the other end North End had to be wary of the pace of Lamb and Cavanagh, and when the latter broke the offside trap as early as the 7^th minute, yet again Steff Fielding showed his worth in the Glossop goal, advancing from his line and blocking the shot with the body.

In the second half, with the wind behind them, Glossop completely snuffed out any threat Formby had to offer – all that was required was for them to get the elusive winning goal.

On 55 minutes Hodges again drilled a cross just out of reach of his strikers.  Meanwhile, Darren Hamilton had also spotted that the Formby defence couldn’t deal with pace, and started to use his, knocking the ball beyond defenders before flying past them.  It nearly produced an own goal on 59 minutes when his low cross was just turned wide by Kerr.

Hamilton produced a moment of magic on 76 minutes when he picked the ball up just inside the Formby half.  The defenders backed off as his ran at them, and the surge took past men, into the area and with just the keeper to beat.  His shot beat the Gannion, but hit the post and bounced wide…unlucky.

Finally though, the goal did come on 81 minutes.  It was Hamilton again, flying down the right, beating his man and making the line.  He had time to look up, spot Dave Morris, and lay the perfect pass for him to sweep it in.   Formby had nothing to offer in return to ensure it is now 9 matches unbeaten at Surrey Street.  Time for the away form to pick up when the team go to Atherton Collieries on Saturday.

Maine Road 0  Glossop North End 2

There has been nothing wrong with North End’s form at home this season, but away from Surrey Street things have not been so good – but the form book was reversed on Saturday when the Hillmen ran out comfortable winners at Maine Road.  So comfortable that Lee Williams, a teenage goalkeeper called in for his debut in place of the injured Steffan Fielding, had only one shot to save, well into the second period.

Before North End took control though, they had to suck up 15 minutes of Maine Road pressure, including 4 corners.  It was from one of these that Lugsden was well placed on the line to clear McGee’s header.

You could sense the game changing when on 20 minutes Lugsden got forward to take a low shot at goal that was comfortably saved, but it helped the North End confidence.  Sure enough, 3 minutes later they had taken the lead.

Darren Hamilton refused to let McGee settle on the ball and forced him into a mistake, pinching the ball off him.  He burst to the edge of the box then passed centrally to Evans, who in turned worked the ball out to the left edge to Bailey.  Bailey took one touch to cut inside and despatch a perfectly placed shot into the corner.

The second goal, on 39 minutes, was a contender for goal of the season.  Lugsden picked up the ball at the edge of his own box and galloped forward.  As he got to halfway, he passed right to Morris and continued forward.  Morris spotted the run, and threaded an inch perfect pass between 3 defenders to Lugsden at the edge of the area.  He looked up, squared for the unmarked Hamilton, who swept the ball in from 6 yards.  A terrific goal.

North End never looked back.  On half time Evans’s acrobatic effort just went over, and it was an indication of the confidence flowing.  In the second half Morris just shot wide, Bailey went close or forced a save on 4 occasions, and Dave Hodges capped a lovely incisive move that involved crisp passes and a backheel with a delicate chip that he was dreadfully unlucky to see hit the bar and bounce to safety.

Meanwhile, at the back, Yates and man of the match Lugsden prevented any meaningful attack on Williams in a performance that the whole team can be proud of.  A very merry start to the Christmas period indeed.

Glossop North End 4, Runcorn Linnets 1

North End produced another ruthless performance at Surrey Street on Saturday, ruthlessly exposing the weakened Linnets and scoring 4 more quality goals that brought their holiday season total to 9.  But although the visitors were hamstrung by injuries and suspensions that limited their selection, the team still contained many names that had led Skelmersdale to promotion a couple of seasons ago, so there was no shortage of quality.

Prior to the game the main talking point was the weather.  5 minutes before kick off the spoiling wind was joined by torrential rain, and it is to both sides credit that they put on a wholly committed and entertaining showing.

Much of the early skirmishing was in midfield, both teams cancelling each other out, but mid-way through Glossop noticed the chink in the Runcorn armour that would win them the game – that Dave Hodges had the beating of the Runcorn full back.

Hodges was skipping past Phillips at will, starting with the 23^rd minute effort when Lee Evans ought to have converted his sliding cross, but was just put off enough to turn it wide.  His work created the corner that Osman cleared off the line too before it finally brought the long awaited opener – and North End had complete control by now – on the 42 minute mark.

Bailey played Hodges in behind the defence, but his shot was blocked.  Runcorn failed to clear, allowing Bailey to pick up the ball again and lay a pass back to Hodges 15 yards out.  He took a sidestep touch and produced a shot that slipped through the keepers arms and dribbled over the line, Darren Hamilton arriving to finish the job just in case.

A minute later it was two when Hodges was again played behind Phillips, this time advancing on goal before hitting a curling shot that hit the inside of  the post and bounced along the line.  Hodges was following up though, and netted from no distance for 2-0.

There was a worry that with the wind against in the second half Runcorn may apply some pressure, but it never came.  Hodges should have had his hat trick on 56 when Evans played him in, but he chose a right foot shot over rounding the keeper and the ball went just the wrong side of the post.

Nevertheless, Hamilton sealed the game on 68 when substitute Westmerland put a lovely ball behind the defence for the striker to run onto, and he poked an early shot into the net.

Fielding made a terrific save from Osman as North End looked to preserve a clean sheet, and it was from a defensive corner that they got the 4^th as Hodges picked up the ball and broke.  Lunt desperately tried to hold his run in his own half before eventually the pass was made, and he finished with aplomb, highlighting the confidence flowing through a team securing their 4^th win on the bounce.