Hillmen leave it late

Resilience was evident in abundance from a beleaguered GNE squad as they battled the elements, absentees, some maddening officiating decisions and a strong Longridge Town side to find a way to extend their most recent unbeaten run to four games.

As the near three hundred crowd filed into the Asgard Engineering stadium they were greeted with news that Glossop were once again unable to field a full squad with injuries and player unavailability denying them of many squad members.  Counting the cost of injuries in their midweek battle against Bury to Keaton Mulvey (discharged from hospital following the recurrence of a shoulder injury), Joe Pennington, injured in the warm up in midweek and midfield leader Lee Rick, who made it to the bench, the starting lineup showed three changes from Tuesday night’s heroics at Gigg Lane.  David Badrock, who’d been out since August returned at left back allowing Dylan McMahon to return to his fight back position with Oliver Mackay unavailable, Devin Snyder took Rick’s place in midfield and goal scoring hero Eli Fisher started in attack.  

As the game got underway the forecasted rain was nowhere to be seen and the home side started the brighter.  A positive start was rewarded with the game’s opening goal and it was a goal which encapsulated the way Brodie’s side have played recently.  Neat interplay in midfield allowed Abdul Djalo time to spot and pick out the barnstorming run of overlapping run of fullback MaMahon.  Having won his battle with his opposite number he drove into the box, head up he spotted Tam Lawless on the penalty spot and his pullback was expertly placed into the bottom corner by Lawless for the opening goal.

In truth, however, it was Glossop’s only incisive move of the half and the visitors grew into the game.  Their robust, direct approach, spearheaded  by striker Liam Atkinson, caused problems for Glossop’s backline and they were grateful to on loan goalkeeper Bayleigh Passant, in the final game of his current loan spell, to save one-on-one with Atkinson half way through the first half.

Unfortunately Glossop weren’t able to see the game out to half time and they conceded the equaliser just before the break, a powerful finish from Atkinson after another direct attack.

Glossop went in frustrated at the break and came out for the resumption to a dramatic change in the weather.  Driving rain and a strong wind at the back of the visitors, attacking the trenches, made for a tough start to the second half and Glossop soon fell behind.  An in swinging right footed corner, taken from well outside the corner area, was headed home at the back post by defender Connor Newton to put the visitors in front. Longridge looked to press home their advantage and had chances to do so with Glossop pressed onto a defensive reshuffle with Niall Fallon unable to continue.  Passant also injured himself but was on hand to save on sixty-eight minutes following a powerful header from Ben Trafford after great delivery from a free kick.

As the elements abated substitutions were made to try and get the home side back in the game but the task was made more difficult on seventy-nine minutes with Conal Gallagher receiving a second yellow card for pulling a shirt, something which had gone unpunished repeatedly for both sides up to that point.  The referee remained at the centre of the talking points and both sides saw a player sent from the field just before the 90 minutes were up following a straight red card for Longridge substitute Luke Smith for his reckless challenge in Marcus Wood.  The Glossop man squared up to his assailant which drew a second yellow from the referee and the game was reduced to nine versus ten.

Despite the adversity, the injuries, the numeric disadvantage and all the frustration which had gone before this team has a special spirit about them to go with their footballing quality.  Four minute into injury time Glossop won a free kick in a dangerous position ten yards outside the opposition penalty area.  Within shooting range certainly, or in an ideal position left of centre to play a ball into the box.  What ensued was a moment of brilliance.  Glossop asked the referee for permission to play quickly, which was granted.  Midfield creator Abdul Djalo has spotted forward Eli Fisher unmarked and onside in the inside-right position.  In a flash he placed the ball down and side footed the ball to his teammate, who had read his intentions and was able to control whilst facing the Longridge goal and strike a precise finish with his left foot in off the far post for the equaliser.  All nine of Glossop’s players, including substitute goalkeeper Charlie Gladwin who had earlier replaced Passant, sprinted to join in the celebrations with the young striker, who has now scored three in three for the hillmen in the space of a week.  

There was still time for a smart save from Gladwin in the dying seconds to secure a precious point for GNE on a dramatic, incident packed afternoon.

Pride was evident on the face of manager Richard Brodie as he marvelled in the tenacity and resilience of his squad who had once again this week secured a battling draw, despite having the odds stacked against them, thanks to the left foot of Eli Fisher.