Glossop North End 2, Brighouse Town 0
Birthday boy Dave Young helped North End consolidate their place in the Evo-Stik Northern League play-off positions at Surrey Street on Saturday. The Glossop skipper, who turned 30 earlier in the week, marked that landmark, and his 450th start for the club, with a first half penalty and a second period assist as The Hillmen sealed 3 important points against the Yorkshire side.
The game itself never hit great heights, and at times was bad-tempered and niggly, but it marked a second win from two in a crucial two-week period of game versus sides who might challenge Glossop North End for a promotion place come the end of April.
The opening goal early in the game, when Kieran Lugsden burst into the box and was body checked by Kurt Harris and won a spot kick. Young stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way.
Chances were very much at a premium. A dangerous Brighouse cross across the face of goal and a Jamie Rainford sniff of goal ruined by a first touch were all that happened of note until just before half time, until Brig’s Ryan Hall intervened. He picked the ball up just outside the Glossop area, dropped his shoulder to go inside and launched a wicked shot towards the net, despairing as hit the post. Leading scorer Ernest Boafo did well to send a good shot goalwards from the rebound, but Luke Pilling got down well to turn the ball around the post.
The second half was very much more of the same, although the visitors started brightly as they tried to force an equaliser. A free kick was deflected wide and a James Hurtley header was also deflected past the post. However on the hour mark, Jason Carey swivelled shot over the bar.
A few minutes later Young launched a long ball forward that Hurtley mis-judged and jumped underneath, allowing Rainford a free run on goal. The keeper was off his line, and Rainford noted this, and all the crowd noted him noting it. As such, a lob was expected, so Rainford hit a low shot past the keeper and into the net, fooling everyone.
Brighouse never gave up and Pilling had to be sharp off his line to deny Hall as he was played in and substitute Steve Hollingworth had a sharp shot hit the post and go wide. However, The Hillmen stood firm to secure the win.
