Glossop North End 2 Maine Road 0
NWCFL Premier Division
Match Report: Jonathan Haggart
Pictures: Jim Lockwood
It wasn’t as pretty as the 6-0 opening day win at Bacup, but this Hillmen performance was more than enough to ensure that their early lead never really looked threatened at any point.
The opening goal came in the 5th minute, from what was already the 3rd North End corner of the game. Sam Hare swung the ball in, and the cross was surprisingly missed by defence and attack as it headed to the edge of the 6 yard box, and it hit Maine Road’s former Hillman Melford Knight and ricocheted off him into the net.
North End pressured for a second and Young headed wide from a free kick, Moxam shot wide, Chappell was just beaten to a cross by inches and best of all Kay hit a 25 yarder that was dipping in until Ince dived full length to push the ball wide.
However as time went by the visitor’s confidence grew and they gradually got a foothold in the game and created a couple of half chances prior to the break, the best of which saw Greg Hall diving full length to push wide a curling shot.
Glossop weren’t out of the game, and Chappell had a shot goalwards parried and cleared, but the midfield wasn’t really functioning with the fluency they had on Saturday.
The Hillmen took a while to raise themselves in the second half too, but a header from a corner on the hour mark from Chappell cannoned against the bar and bounced to safety. It was only a temporary respite for Maine Road though.
In the 64th minute a poor clearance from Ince fell to Eddie Moran and his crossed was chested down by Tom Bailey into the path of Hare. Hare’s forceful shot was parried behind for a corner, but from the flag kick Kelvin Lugsden rose completely unmarked and powered the ball in from 6 yards.
In essence that sealed the game for North End, and their main intention from there was to ensure that the kept a second clean sheet in two games.
North End felt they had a claim to a penalty when Young was hauled down at a corner, but none of the officials saw it. There were other chances, Kay shooting at the keeper and Chappell blazing over the bar, but the job was job satisfactorily.
Two wins from two for the Hillmen now and as well as starting brighter than last season, these 6 points are from games that garnered zero points in 2013-14. A promising start.
Full match details can be found on the Match Centre along with a copy of the match day programme.
Attendance: 302
If you can’t see the gallery, click here to view the pictures