NWCFL Premier League newcomers Wigan Robin Park were looking to continue their good League form when they came to Surrey Street on Tuesday Evening but went away empty handed as a fine display by the Hillmen led to what was described by many as a “comfortable 1-0 victory” for the home side.
Report: Stewart Taylor
A lively start by both sides saw much of the football played in midfield but on 14 minutes a cross from the right found Glossop North End winger Ben Connolly unmarked in the box and his fine strike curled round Wigan goalkeeper Jason Foulds to nestle in the bottom corner of the net. A sublime strike invoking memories of the contributions of ex-Hillman winger Dave Hodges in the minds of many of the Glossop North End supporters.
The vistors were stung into a response and pressed forward with purpose but were confined to long range efforts, mainly by Philip Howard and the influential Colin Quirk, which did not trouble Ben Proctor in the Glossop North End goal.
Weathering this brief storm, the Hillmen relaxed and started to play good passing football which created a number of chances. On the half hour Foulds was well beaten by a shot from Tom Wilson only to see the ball ricochet off the crossbar. As the half came to a close Glossop North End forward Dean McGregor found himself one-on-one with Foulds but the goalkeeper made a fine save from a well struck shot.
The second half started at a pace with an early “shout” for a penalty for Glossop North End as Sam Marshall appeared to be tripped in the area by Foulds. The referee waved the appeals away and this led to a short period where tempers were running a little high and the game was marred as a spectacle by frequent free kicks.
The match soon settled down and more fluid play from the Hillmen ensued with balls into the channels seeming to be the preferred method of putting pressure onto an increasingly busy Wigan Robin Park defence. Numerous chances for the home side came and went with only sporadic raids from the visitors ensuring that Proctor had probably his quietest evening of the season so far.
Into the last 10 minutes and Glossop North End midfielder Nick Allen must have thought that he had scored his first goal of the season as a firm header from a corner beat Foulds comprehensively but Allen, and the home supporters massed at the Clubhouse end, were disappointed to see the crossbar come to the aid of Wigan Robin Park again.
A fine reception greeted the Hillmen as they left the field of play at the end of the match with 3 league points in the bag although who said 1-0 was “comfortable”?
| TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2012 • NWCFL PREMIER DIVISION | ||
| GLOSSOP NORTH END | 1-0 | WIGAN ROBIN PARK |
| Connolly 14 | H-T: 1-0 | |
| Ben PROCTOR | 1 | Jay FOULDS © |
| Alex ELLIOTT | 2 | Phil JOHNSON |
| Danny BROWNE | 3 | Michael WOOD |
| Ash SMALLWOOD | 4 | Kieran HALLIWELL |
| © Kelvin LUGSDEN | 5 | Ian ROWLANDS |
| Nick ALLEN | 6 | Stephen KAY |
| Sam MARSHALL | 7 | Michael CASE |
| Adam OAKES | 8 | Colin QUIRK |
 12 Tom WILSON |
9 | Philip HOWARD |
| 15 Dean McGREGOR |
10 | Robert HANLEY |
 Ben CONNOLLY |
11 | Paul CLIFF |
 9 Jake WILLIAMS |
12 | Andrew NEAFCY |
| Daley ROTHWELL | 14 | Dean CALLAWAY |
| 10 Mike BAMBER |
15 | Connor MURPHY |
| Jonny HIRST | 16 | |
| Simon THOMPSON | 17 | |
| Attendance: 110 | ||
