In their first game of 2015, The Hillmen overcame some rustiness, a strong wind and a pitch showing the rigours of the difficult recent weather, to come back from an early blow to continue their pursuit of leaders Runcorn Linnets. The gap remains 12 points, with the Hillmen having 5 games in hand.
Congleton Town 1, Glossop North End 3
North West Counties Premier Division
Match Report – Jonathan Haggart
Photographer – Jim Lockwood
Glossop North End started disjointedly as they tried to deal with the conditions, and had had a warning on 7 minutes when Hudson cut in from the left but shot over the bar from the edge of the area. It was not heeded though, as the home side took the lead in the 10th minute.
The ball was worked to the left touchline and Hudson put in a terrific cross to the penalty spot that Liam Crellin-Myers stooped to head past Greg Hall into the net.
Glossop tried to respond quickly, and Jason Carey’s snapshot forced a good save from Craig Ellison in the Congleton goal. North End began to get a grip of the game, but their final delivery was letting them down, failing to find their targets.
However, on 31 minutes they were back on level terms. A free kick from half way fell to Carey at the edge of the area. He mis-directed his shot, but it fell to Kieran Lugsden who swept in the shot from 12 yards.
Further opportunities came before half time. Good work on 40 minutes saw Tom Bailey’s shot cleared off the line, seemingly by the arm of the Congleton player, but the referee saw it differently. Meanwhile Ben Richardson put a wicked free kick just over the bar and the same player got behind the defence on the stroke of half time, but seemed to be waiting for the linesman’s flag and rather fluffed his shot.
The second half was dominated by Glossop North End, pressuring the Congleton defence from the off. Ellison saved well from Eddie Moran twice, while Richardson drove just wide after making space for himself.
Finally the goal came on 64 minutes when Tom Bailey got behind the defence. His shot was saved but deflected back to his feet where he calmly lifted the ball over the prone goalkeeper to net.
Bailey nearly added to the goal when he beat the goalkeeper to a ball chase over the back line. He poked the ball past the keeper but it just trickled the wrong side of the post. However, Bailey made no mistake on 84 minutes when a foul in the box on Sam Hind gave him the chance to net from the spot.
Another win, and a particularly pleasing day for captain Dave Young, who was making his 400th appearance for the club.
