Glossop North End took a significant step towards Play-Off qualification on Saturday. The 4th placed Hillmen travelled to 5th placed Burscough and put the Linnets to the sword and open up an 8 point gap between the two sides.
With Jamie Rainford absent, Mark Reed stepped in to lead the line, and Luke Pilling’s return to parent club Tranmere meant that experienced keeper Andy Robertson was drafted in from Sheffield FC for his debut. Both would play their part in the victory.
The first half was low on quality though high on effort with both sides fully committed. This led to a couple of flare ups in midfield. The majority of the chances fell to Glossop North End, but both defences were committed, as Nick Ryan’s block tackle on Reed as the ball fell to him in the box attested. He got his body in the way just as the striker pulled the trigger.
Kieran Lugsden poked a snapshot over the bar after the ball had pinballed to him in the box and Reed headed over after a Young free kick at the edge had ballooned off the wall. Jason Carey had a good chance to find a striker in the box when a Russell ball put him in on the by-line but the cross was behind the strikers, or the strikers were all in front of the cross, depending on whose version you take.
Burscough’s best chance of the half came on 33 minutes when a clearance dropped to the feet of Noon and he knocked it inside to the edge of the area for Monaghan. The number 7 sidefooted a shot goalwards, and whilst it might have been going over Robertson wasn’t to know that and acrobatically tipped it above the upright.
Glossop grabbed the lead in the 51st minute after another midfield bout of handbags. A free kick on the left was swung in by Astley Mulholland and everyone waited for it to be touched goalwards or out of the area. Instead it bounced on the 6 yard line and on into the corner of the net. 1-0.
Robertson did well again to push Paul Williams’ low free kick around the post, and Glossop took full advantage on 67 minutes. A North End free kick halfway in the Linnets’ half was swing into the box. Although it hit a defender and went out to the left touchline, Eddie Moran touched the ball back inside for Dave Young to slot home and make it two.
Glossop’s back four of Russell, Young, Sam Barnes and Martin Parker were rock solid, all doing well to repel everything thrown at them. Then with 5 minutes left Parker got involved up front, playing a lovely 1-2 with Moran to get to the line, and then drilling in a low cross for Reed to net at the near post. It sealed a very pleasing win.