The Hillmen’s last visit to Shirebrook Town was in the early rounds of the FA Vase in season 2011/12. That match ended 3-1 to the visitors with the highlight being a rare goal by central defender Kelvin Lugsden. Before this match there was much speculation as to whether history would repeat itself – and it did.
Shirebrook Town 1, Glossop North End 3
Derbyshire Senior Cup, Quarter-Final
Match Report: Stewart Taylor
Pictures: Jim Lockwood
GNE lined up with Dave Young in his more familiar role, at least to the travelling Glossop supporters, of right back with Stef Fielding taking the goalkeeper jersey. Kieran Lugsden started up front.
The match started at high tempo but with neither side creating goalscoring opportunities until the 10th minute when a swarm of Shirebrook Town players broke into the box. A chance was set up for Grant Ryan, his shot bringing a smart save from Fielding by his near post.
GNE hit straight back as Alex Byrne was put in on goal by Kieran Lugsden but Byrne’s shot was straight at Sam Andrew in the home goal who saved comfortably.
As the half continued the visitors were dominating the match but failed to create any real chances. The home side tried hard to stay with the pace of the match but came up against a very solid Glossop back four.
The deadlock was broken on 38 minutes with the best football of the match. Lee Blackshaw went on a long run down the left, his pass found Kieran Lugsden whose first touch found Alex Byrne moving into the area free on goal. Byrne made no mistake with a firm right foot shot past Andrew.
GNE continued to dominate and had further reward on the stroke of half time. Good passing around the right hand side of the Shirebrook box dragged in all of the defensive cover so that a pass out to the left found Sam Hare free to slot the ball past Andrew.
2-0 to the visitors and a fair reflection of the half.
The Hillmen started the second half strongly but the game lost its rhythm as a number of free kicks were awarded and tempers began to fray. Eventually the match settled down and it was GNE who provided the next goal. On 71 minutes a corner from the right was swung in left footed by Blackshaw and it was Kelvin Lugsden who met the ball perfectly to give Andrew no chance of stopping his header.
The home side, stung by this further setback, went looking for goals and managed to pull one back almost immediately. A challenge just inside the box was deemed to be a foul and free scoring centre forward Aaron Moxon stepped up to despatch the resultant spot kick away to Fielding’s left. This gave the home side some hope but their best efforts were thwarted by a strong GNE defence in which Fielding played his part when called into the action.
History did indeed repeat itself and GNE await the draw to discover who they will play in the semi-finals of this competition.
GNE: Fielding, Young, Russell, Kelvin Lugsden, Adams, Blackshaw (Ellison), Byrne, Kilheeney, Bailey, Hare, Kieran Lugsden (Riley).
