Hillmen earn a crucial point on the road

Glossop travelled to Gigg Lane, Bury, with spirits high following their 5-1 victory against Squires Gate at the weekend to face the in-form, unbeaten in the 2024/25 season, league favourites Bury.

GNE’s starting lineup showed two changes from the weekend victory with captain Ollie Parker returning to the heart of the defence and with midfielder Joe Berks recalled by his parent club, he’s dual registered from Mossley, Abdul Djalo returned in midfield.  The hosts were at full strength, despite a fourth qualifying round FA cup tie against opposition two tiers higher at the weekend.

On a crisp autumnal evening, in front of a crowd of 2558 Brodie’s team set about the challenge ahead of them. The game had a cagey opening but with the hosts superior pace in attack clearly in evidence on their new 4G pitch, pace which caused an early problem for Dylan McMahon who went into the book in the opening three minutes. 

Glossop suffered an injury setback with forward Keaton Mulvey departing the action with a shoulder injury which forced him to go to hospital, to be replaced but Eli Fisher.

Bury’s main threat in the first half was their wing play and with both Glossop fullbacks in the book, and needing to show necessary caution, the home side were able to flash several dangerous crosses into the box but were unable to get on the end of them.

Bury’s Reuben Jerome isolated Ollie McKay on the edge slipped the ball thigh his legs and ,looked set to opening the scoring but a combination of a sliding challenge from Niall Fallon and the onrushing Bayleigh Passant denied him.

Glossop’s brightest moment of the half came on thirty eight minutes when Tom Lawless drove into the box from the left hand side and saw his shot form a tight angle saved by the feet of Bury’s goalkeeper Mitchell Allen.

Glossop finished the half well with Conal Gallagher finding Tom Lawless but as he was closed down the ball was back with Gallagher who drove into the box and saw his shot deflected wide for a corner. When ensued however was a brisk counter attack down the Bury right and as the ball was squared into the box it looked for all the world that Bryan Ly would open the scoring but for a fantastic smothering save from Passant to deny him, right on the stroke of half time.

Glossop started the half brightly with Djalo playing Fisher in and his shot was well saved by ‘keeper Allen but they fell behind in controversial circumstances on 54 minutes as Lee Rick, with his back to the striker, was adjudged by the referee to have handled and a penalty was awarded.  Despite diving the right way Passant was unable to stop the well taken penalty which went into the keeper’s top right corner of the goal.

Bury, with a spring in their steps, piled on the pressure and blocks by both Glossop centre backs denied them the chance of extending their lead.  In the 64th minute however another dangerous cross, this time from the left, was met by Bryan Ly eight yards out and he made no mistake in doubling the advantage.

Having withstood the onslaught Glossop managed to get a foothold in the game and found a way back into it on sixty eight minutes with a carbon copy of the goal they’d just conceded.  Glossop’s left back McMahon pulled back a dangerous cross and their #10 Conal Gallagher stroked the back home to make the score line 2-1.

Moments later Bury nearly restored their two goal advantage as a dangerous free kick was drilled across the box and Jerome’s effort was half saved, thanks to the excellent reflexes of Bayleigh Passant with his skipper Ollie Parker finishing the clearance on the line.

As both sides pressed each other the defining moment of the game arrived with twelve minutes of normal time left.  Eli Fisher chased what appeared to be a lost cause into the corner on Glossop’s right, however, he was able to dispossess the Bury centre back, near the corner flag, drive into the box and finish superbly from the tightest of angles with his left foot to draw as the hillmen level.

Both sides had half chances in the closing moments to snatch the win but as the four minutes of added time expired the referee’s whistle blow for full time and an excellent point for the hillmen.

As Richard Brodie reflected in his interview he praised the character, togetherness and resilience of his squad, who had come from two goals down to earn a draw at a Gigg Lane.  The team received rapturous applause from the travelling fans who cheered team laud and proud after the final whistle.

Another busy week for the Hillmen, back in action at home at the weekend as they host Longridge Town.