A six minute second half salvo saw Glossop run out comfortable winners at the Robin Park Arena on Saturday, taking Chris Willcock’s team into the league’s top ten. A goal from Tom Bailey and two from his new strike partner Sam Madeley was enough to win, and it could have been more.
Wigan Robin Park 0, Glossop North End 3
NWCFL Premier Division
Match Report: Jonathan Haggart
Pictures: Jim Lockwood
Early on the teams exchanged good chances with Andy Kilheeney forcing Lever into a good save to his right, but at the other end Edgar forced a spectacular diving save from Dean Williams with a drive from the edge of the box when a clearance fell nicely into his path. The difference is, that was to be Williams’ last save of note – Lever would be busier.
The first half was played in bizarre conditions, with either blue skies and sun or hailstones and driving rain, and very little in between. It was difficult for both teams, and there were plenty of slips on a greasy surface.
Martin Parker headed just wide whilst Bailey forced Lever to save at his near post and then couldn’t control a bouncing ball and mis-kicked. Madeley had the ball in the net, only to be dragged back for offside. The half was regularly punctuated by the referee’s whistle, as for a spell he seemed to lose some control and try to pull it back by blowing up regularly. It did not endear him to players or supporters.
Glossop started the second half brightly and Hirst should have shot first time when picking up a Bailey pass in the box, but his desire for a touch gave the defence a chance to block. However, in the 59th minute the breakthrough did come.
Dave Young played a ball to the right to Alex Byrne, who advanced down the line and sent in a low cross that Madeley missed at the near post, but Bailey, named the North West Counties League player of the month the day previous, could not miss from short range at the far post.
Barely a minute later Madeley doubled the lead. This time an quick-thinking Bailey took a quick free kick in the WRP half, curling a pass to the alert Madeley who cleverly won himself the space to shoot across the keeper and into the corner of the net by feigning a switch to his right foot. Instead he finished with his left.
The game was effectively over in the 65th minute when Young pinged a ball from the back, Bailey flicked it on and Madeley’s pace got him behind the defence to finish with aplomb. Bailey and Madeley played together at Altrincham as youngsters, and their partnership is showing signs of blossoming again after just three games for the former Mossley man.
There was one warning for GNE when Edgar shot wide from Newbold’s cut back, but as the hailstones came down once more, it still looked more like North End would score again. Byrne had a great opportunity from short range, the keeper beaten, but a defender managed to recover and block.
These three points were sealed though, capping a successful week in which Glossop beat both top and bottom of the league. Now, if they could just replicate this with the teams in between…
GNE: Williams, Byrne, Russell, Lugsden, Young, Parker (Blackshaw), Hirst (Cliff), Kilheeney, Bailey, Allen, Madeley (Riley).
