There haven’t been too many games this season in which the Hillmen have rode their luck to get what they earned, but they did at Surrey Street on Saturday when the impressive visitors pinned them back in their own half for much of the second half, however renaissance man Mark Reed popped up with ten minutes to go to pinch all three points.
Reed has effectively been retired this season. Although he never announced that his boots were hung up Reed was only seen once in the first half of 2015-16, a surprise substitutes appearance at Warrington. However, he was back on the bench for the Brighouse game at the end of February, and has now scored in both subsequent games. His winning goal celebration certainly suggests he still enjoys it.
This was an excellent game, with both sides starting brightly, forcing early corners. Trafford had the first serious shot on goal when neat interplay saw the ball laid to Chris Palmer at the edge of the box. He hit a fierce drive that Andy Robertson did well to dive and push onto the bar. The ball was scrambled behind.
Glossop too were pressing, and Jamie Rainford cut into the box to force Russ Saunders to make a low save at his near post. However, Glossop North End did take the lead from the corner. The flag kick was cleared, but Jason Carey picked it up on the edge of the area, swivelled and shot into the net. Saunders got a touch, but not one strong enough to stop the ball.
On top, Glossop then wasted a couple of chances to extend the lead. Rainford was the culprit, putting the rebound from Astley Mulholland’s blocked shot over the bar from the penalty spot, and then shooting wide when doing well to out-muscle the centre half outside the box.
Trafford then tried to press and Dave Young blocked a goal-bound shot when prone on the floor, and in the second half they took over the game for a spell. There were few shots to trouble Robertson but the pressure was building with a flurry of free kicks and corners, and eventually the damn broke. On the hour mark Liam Davies charged down a clearance and the ball fell nicely for him behind the back line. He lashed in the equaliser from 15 yards.
‘They’re gone’ shouted the Trafford bench, beseeching their team to press further, but the defence held firm, with just a Kyle Jacobs shot that went just wide to reward the pressure, and gradually North End got themselves back into the game.
Then in the 80th minute Tom Bailey got a second chance to deliver a cross after his first effort was blocked. His ball into the 6 yard box was flicked on by Carey and poaching at the back post Reed poked the ball home.
Trafford upped their efforts again, and with 5 minutes left a free kick from the right was swung in, missed everyone, then hit the inside of the post. When the ball bounced back into Robertson’s grateful arms, they probably had a sense it wasn’t to be their day. North End, meanwhile, ticked off another game with a win. There are 10 left in the season and the play-offs are looking more possible with each one.
