It’s the time of the season where points are more important than performances, and North End will be delighted to have the three more in the bag as they continue their quest to secure a play-off place. The game wasn’t pretty after The Hillmen took a very early lead, and they nearly blew it towards the end, but come 5pm they had moved up one place in the table, and that was all that mattered.
The opening goal came in the 2nd minute. Ben Richardson swung in a high corner to the back post that the Ossett defence just stood and watched. Jason Carey was only too happy to accept the gift of a tap-in at the post, netting from short range.
Rather than spark the game into life, the goal rather killed it. Glossop North End had no reason to push players forward, and Ossett had little to offer up front, particularly after their danger-man Danny Frost was carried off with a painful looking injury after an awkward landing.
As such there were few chances, although Dave Young tested Ossett keeper Tom Beaupaire with a trademark shot from his own half that nearly caught the custodian off guard. In the end he had to palm the ball wide. From the corner there was nearly a spectacular own goal, but Jack Siddall was able to clear the powerful defensive header off the line.
As the half ended, Richardson’s first-time swivelled shot looked goalbound, but was blocked by a defender.
If anything, the second half elicited even fewer chances. A midfield battle ensued, occasionally punctuated with a set piece. Glossop looked more dangerous, but aside from another effort from a corner cleared off the line, they did not create very much until the 77th minute.
A free kick on the right was swung into the box and only partially cleared. Martyn Andrews was first to the ball but his low shot was blocked. However, it ran to Mark Reed inside the 6 yard box and the experienced striker made no mistake in finishing his third goal in as many games.
Glossop looked like adding, particularly through Jamie Rainford, who was restricted to a small cameo appearance from the bench. He dribbled into the box beautifully, only to see his shot blocked.
Then suddenly, after an inert performance up front, Ossett were given a lifeline in the final minute. David Brown took a shot that Kelvin Lugsden was adjudged to have blocked with his arm in the box. Brown himself took the penalty, sending Andy Robertson the wrong way.
Then, in the fourth minute of injury time they nearly pinched the most unlikely of points, when a ball into the box was met by a smart overhead kick of Simon Rogers, and Robertson could only watch on helpless as the ball headed just wide of the net.
A big few days awaits North End as they take on play-off rivals in Clitheroe on Tuesday, followed by a tough trip to Farsley Celtic, and then an Easter Monday derby at home to Mossley. By the end of those games their end of season fate will be much clearer.
