Rick to the rescue for GNE

Last Saturday saw Glossop North End bounce back from their defeat to Irlam with a 2-1 win at home to Prestwich Heys.

Operating in a 3-4-2-1 formation, visitors Prestwich started brightly and for the opening 20 minutes GNE were all at sea.

The extra man in the central areas meant Glossop’s midfield was overrun and misplaced passes and sloppy play blighted the hosts early on.

It was no surprise when they fell behind on 12 minutes as new signing Sambizi got in-between fullback and centre back down their left, squared the ball across the box and fellow wingback Bardsley-Rowe was in space and was able to calmly finish into the bottom corner shooting across Alex
Brown’s goal.

The pressure continued and Glossop were thankful for some great defending and a piece of fortune to avoid falling further behind.

A breaking run from one of Prestwich’s number 10s, captain Michael Burke, saw him in on goal, Brown was able to half save the effort one-on-one but it needed a sliding goal-line clearance from Dylan McMahon to complete the job.

Moments later McMahon was able to make a vital last ditch tackle inside the area to prevent another promising Prestwich move resulting in an effort
on goal.

Home fans amongst the 347 in attendance were desperate for Glossop to get going and in the blink of an eye they were able to draw level.

Conal Gallagher, making his 50th appearance for the club, got hold of the ball in his own half, on the right of midfield.

He drilled a wonderful 60 yard crossfield ball to Keaton Mulvey who was able to control first time, attack the right centre back, get past his man and then drill a left footed shot across Harry Allan as it was rifled into the top corner.

Out of nothing and against the run of play GNE were level.

The goal galvanised the crowd and Glossop grew into the game making it a much more even contest.

On the brink of half time Glossop were able to move in front.

Smart interplay from Tom Lawless and Mulvey say Tom drive into the box, be fouled and the referee pointed to the spot.

Midfielder Lee Rick stepped up in the absence of Lew Reilly, sidelined once again with injury, and drilled home his penalty - it needed to be a good penalty because Harry Allen went the right way.

A goal in front at the break after a half of two halves.

Under Richard Brodie’s tenure Glossop have been involved in numerous games where they have played well, deserved something and come away
empty handed and frustrated as a result.

They’ve also had a few games where a lead has been surrendered and they’ve been unable to close out a tight game.

Last week they managed to suffer both of those fates in the same game.

At the full time whistle on Saturday they managed to avoid both of those outcomes and were relieved to have gained the three points and sent their
opponents home with that taste of frustration having not earned the result their performance arguably deserved.

Despite not creating too much, in turn Glossop were never under too many spells of concerted pressure.

A smart save from Alex Brown from a Prestwich corner on 78 minutes, and a rather desperate Oliver Parker block, where the skipper had put his body on the line as well as some late drama with injury time corners which Harry Allen went up for were the moments of most concern but by and large Glossop had gotten to grips with their opponents’ formation and fluidity.

In truth Glossop showed the solidity required to see out a tight game and claim the win which is so important at this level.

Two home wins from two and ten points from the first five games of 2025 see the Hillmen move up to fourteenth, surpassing last season’s points tally with eleven games of the season left as they push to finish as high as possible and continue to grow into life in step 5 of non league football.

They have a chance to extend the unbeaten home record for this calendar year this weekend when FC Isle of Man visit at the earlier time of 14:00.