The Hillmen became only the third team to complete a NWCFL league and cup double with what turned out to be a comfortable win at the Tameside Stadium on Tuesday. They were assisted considerably by their opponents.
Atherton Collieries 0, Glossop North End 2
Men United League Cup Final
Thursday 30th April 2015
Played at Curzon Ashton
Match Report – Jonathan Haggart
Photographer – Jim Lockwood
It was the Premier League champions vs the First Division champions. Both teams had won their respective leagues despite punishing schedules, and clearly had plenty of talent, Colls not least with their former-Hillman 60+ goals striker Mark Battersby. The game had been anticipated as it looked a potential classic.
However, the match up never really happened, as the main difference between the two sides on the night was discipline. Atherton lost theirs – ironically just as they had got a foothold in the game – and ended the night with just nine men.
North End had started like a train, the pace of Sam Hind and Mark Reed causing them all sorts of problems at the back. Hind went very close from Reed’s through ball, lobbing the stranded keeper but just over the target, and also had a shot after a run from and angle saved at the near post.
Reed also headed a Bowler cross wide as the early pressure built, but when the lead game in the 10th minute from a corner it was rather fortunate. Tom Bailey swung it in, and it seemed to rebound off Kelvin Lugsden into the net – no-one was quite convinced that Lugsden knew too much about the finish – but the goal advantage had been earned.
The Hillmen continued to press and forced a number of corners, although they couldn’t hurt Collieries with any of them. Up until the 25th minute they clearly the upper hand, but slowly Colls were beginning to settle. On 35 minutes good Battersby work in the box laid Kristian Holt at the edge of the area, but his shot was saved by Greg Hall
Suddenly Glossop were struggling to hold onto the ball, and putting themselves under pressure, and it looked like we had a game on our hands. But as soon as that feeling came, Atherton self-destructed.
With 5 minutes of the half left, Eddie Moran was fouled late by Brad Cooke, a tackle that would have been a yellow card. Moran jumped up to confront Cooke, and Michael Bowler also joined the argument, only for Cooke to take exception to the protests and headbutt the Glossop full back.
A melee ensued and no-one would have a clear view of what happened in the mesh of bodies, but Cooke’s offence was clear and the referee had no option to dismiss him when everything had finally calmed down. It seemed odd that Bowler was subsequently booed – and spat on – by Atherton supporters. The former is pantomime, but the latter is out of order.
The second half started with Glossop North End looking to take advantage of the extra man, and they got a gilt edged chance in the 49th minute was Mark Reed was bundled over in the box. The referee pointed to the spot, and Eddie Moran stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Battersby was always dangerous, and put a drive from the edge of the area just over the bar. However, the striker was visibly showing his frustration about how the game was going, and having already been booked was foolish to barge into Richard Gresty as he cleared the ball. Although Battersby took Gresty’s kicking leg, and the referee had little option to book him again and reduce Colls to nine.
From there, the Hillmen were content to hold onto possession, not exerting themselves too much with the FA Vase final coming up, and largely they passed it around the back. Tom Bailey had a couple of efforts when openings were probed open, but headed wide, and shot at the Colls keeper.
The game was already won though, and Glossop’s already extraordinary season got a touch better.
The NWCFL cup is an absolute beauty, and the players and management gleefully showed it off to the sizeable support.
