After just one match in almost 7 weeks it was back to action for Glossop North End on Saturday. The fears of those spectators who thought that the long lay off would affect the players were soon dispelled as any cobwebs were blown away by a keen north-westerly wind at the rather exposed Angel Telecom ground.
Match Report: Stewart Taylor
Pictures: Jim Lockwood
To say that the Hillmen hit the ground running was something of an understatement as a side showing just one change from the side which drew at home to Alsager in January, Sam Marshall in for the injured Danny Browne, started very much on the front foot and remained there for the whole of the 90 minutes.
The match kicked off in bright sunlight with the Hillmen playing with the breeze at their backs on a somewhat wet pitch. The first significant action came in the 8th minute as Marshall won the ball in midfield from a misdirected free-kick by the home side. Dean McGregor was played in on goal and he duly rounded Ed Hall in the Silsden goal before sending in a goal bound shot. Somehow a couple of the Silsden defenders managed to get back and scramble the ball off the line.
Glossop North End continued to press and the opening goal came 2 minutes later as a right wing corner glanced off the head of Silsden captain and central defender Danny Husband for an own goal and give the lead to the visitors. More was to follow quickly as in the 14th minute striker Mark Battersby chased the ball towards the dead-ball line taking goalkeeper Hall with him and out of position. He beat the keeper and then, showing tremendous imagination and skill, Battersby lifted the ball into the undefended goal from literally on the dead-ball line for a memorable goal.
Although 2-0 down within the first 15 minutes, Silsden were not out of the match as a rather youthful side played some good football into the breeze but lacked the final ball to feed prolific goalscorer Michael Garrod.
Close to the half hour mark it was 3-0 to the visitors as that man Battersby again latched onto the ball close to the opposition area, moved forward and rounded the advancing Hall to place the ball calmly into the unguarded net.
As the wind dropped, much to the relief of the now frozen spectators, the second half started with substitute Nathan Bond on the field for the injured Adam Oakes and it was not long before the Hillmen were celebrating again. With just 5 minutes of the second period played Ash Smallwood played a fine ball inside Husband to find Battersby free in the area. A stunning left foot shot by the striker gave Hall no chance. The game settled a little as the visitors looked to retain possession and snuff out any even remote chance of a comeback from the Cobbydalers.
Rick Winstanley entered the fray as a substitute for Jake Williams who looked to have taken a nasty knock following a heavy challenge. The required re-shaping of the Glossop North End formation did nothing to stop their forward movement and a fifth goal duly came on 74 minutes as a left footed cross by Nathan Bond from the right of the Silsden penalty area was met at the near post by Battersby whose delicate flick was enough to send the ball past Hall and into the net. A true striker’s goal if ever we saw one as Battersby did what all strikers are told to do and that is to anticipate where the ball could come to do the most damage and get in front of the defender. This seems to come instinctively to Battersby who now has 21 goals from his 16 matches for GNE.
The only disappointment for the visiting side was in conceding a late goal to Silsden’s Chris Wademen to spoil the clean sheet which would have been well merited. Nevertheless, great credit to the whole Glossop North End squad, including debutant Jordan Matthew who came on as a late substitute, for a splendid performance from back to front although it will be Mark Battersby who will dominate the headlines again.
Final Score: Silsden 1, Glossop North End 5
Glossop North End Team Proctor, Jones, Allen, Hazelden, Lugsden, Smallwood, Williams (Winstanley), Oakes (Bond), McGregor (D) (Matthew), Battersby, Marshall.
Sub not used Connolly
