Five star Hillmen

Glossop North End got back to winning ways in the NWCFL on Saturday with an emphatic 5-1 win at home to Squires Gate.

Manager Richard Brodie had to shuffle his squad and faced a raft of absences with injuries mounting, club captain Ollie Parker serving his final suspension.  Six of the squad who weren’t available for selection were on hand to support their team mates, a sign of the unity within the squad which has been built this season.  The starting lineup saw local player Oliver Mackay start at right back, the position he ended the game in midweek when he was awarded the man of the match.  This meant Dylan McMahon, September’s fans player of the month moving across to left back.  Influential midfielder Abdul Djalo was carrying a knock so the midfield was comprised of Gallagher, Wood, Berks, and captain Lee Rick.  Glossop named new signing Elijah Fisher, who joined in dual registration from Witton Albion amongst the substitutes.

The game got underway on a bright, sunny October afternoon and Glossop’s bright start was soon rewarded with an early lead.  Following consecutive corners the ball ended up on Glossop’s left, McMahon beat his man and saw his cross headed goal-wards by Keaton Mulvey.  Whilst his header was initially saved strike partner Tom Lawless was on hand to strike the ball home to put the hillmen in front.

Glossop didn’t let up and continued to dominate possession and territory.  Another Lawless header and two great strikes from distance from midfielder Marcus Wood were all well saved.  The pressure finally paid off with Glossop moving out to a 3-0 lead with two in two minutes.  First a fantastic diagonal cross field pass from inside his own half saw Oliver Mackay pick out fellow fullback McMahon who had advanced down the left.  The fullback controlled the ball, glided inside his defender and unleashed a great shot across the keeper into the bottom corner for a spectacular goal.  Moments later it was Mulvey joining his striker partner in the goals once again as hie tapped home the rebound from his own shot which was previously saved.

Three goals in front and cruising after a totally dominant opening third of the game it was a lapse in concentration allowed the visitors to pull one back before half time, from a counter attack, despite a great initial save from ‘keeper Bayleigh Passant so the sides headed in at the break with the score line 3-1.

Any hopes of a comeback for the visitors were quashed within five minute of the restart.  A quick clearance from Passant found Glossop two-on-two.  Good control from Lawless 30 yards out and he was able to pick out his strike partner who carri3 the ball into the box and then finished neatly between the legs of the defender, which unsighted the goalkeeper, and Mulvey was off to celebrate in front of the home fans in the trenches.

With Glossop in control the game became scrappy and at times a little impetuous with a couple of players from each side finding their way into the referee’s note book.  Glossop looked to utilise their bench and made three changes, Fisher and player/manager Brodie coming into the attack.  Glossop players looked to tire a little towards the end but Passant was rarely troubled and was able to claim crosses and relieve any pressure.  A good move from the visitors saw a great chance spurned by substitute Edokpayi who blazed over from close range.

It was Glossop’s two attacking substitutes who combined in stoppage time to put the icing in the cake for Glossop with their fifth goal of the day.  Smart movement from Brodie allowed him to control a clearance and he was able to roll the ball into the path of his young strike partner who was carrier the ball to the edge of the box, left of centre, before bending his left footed shot round the defender and into the bottom corner for a smart finish.

A rare day for the hillmen, five goals, three points and all in glorious sunshine in front of just over 200 fans.  Brodie reflecting after the game at how proud he was of his threadbare squad, singling out the unseen hard work and quality of both Marcus Wood and man of the match Conal Gallagher as the hillmen return to winning ways in the league.  The tree points continuing to nudge the hillmen up the table leaving them only seven points off the playoff places with a third of the season gone and with thirty games left to play.

Another busy week lies ahead with a second game against league favourites Bury on Tuesday night before a return to the Asgard Engineering Stadium at the weekend against Longridge Town.