Captain Adams leads the way as GNE go Hawaii

Glossop North End 5, Winsford United 0
NWCFL Premier Division

Match Report: Jonathan Haggart
Pictures: Jim Lockwood

North End bounced back from surprise defeat at the weekend with a comprehensive win against a poor Winsford United side. The breakthrough took a while, but once the Hillmen had grabbed the lead the result was never in doubt.

Chris Willcock had made three changes from Saturday’s game, the most significant of which was Dean Williams coming in in goal for Ben Proctor. Williams could not have wished for a more comfortable league debut.

In the opening half hour Glossop had two chances cleared off the line as they looked to grab the initiative. Firstly a round of penalty box pinball saw both Lincoln Adams and Alex Byrne takes pokes at goal, Adams’ effort was saved and Byrne’s cleared as it look sure to cross the line. Then a Tom Bailey shot was pushed away and again Byrne’s effort was blocked, this time by a prone goalkeeper.

However, on 35 minutes the breakthrough did finally come. A Lee Blackshaw corner found its way back out to the winger and his curled cross caused panic in the box, falling kindly for Lincoln Adams to tap past a stranded keeper to score.

Six minutes later it was 2 when Winsford lost possession right outside their dugout, claiming their man was fouled. The referee waved play on, and Andy Kilheeney slotted a ball through the defence for Bailey, looking slightly offside, to run onto and net past the advancing keeper.

The second half started in a similar vein and by the 53rd minute it was 3-0. This time the ball was passed down the right side for Byrne to flick the ball inside first time and put Sam Hare through on goal. As the keeper advanced to meet Hare the midfielder lobbed him with aplomb.

The fourth came in the 62nd minute, and it was the pick of the lot. From a Winsford corner Kilheeney won the ball at the edge of the area and Blackshaw reacted smartly to pick up the ball and stride away from his own penalty box. He weighted a perfect pass to Bailey on the right and behind the full back he drew the keeper toward him before accurately squaring the ball to the far post for Hare to tap in.

The scoring was completed by Paul Cliff in the 84th minute when fellow substitute Kyle Riley crossed from the right and Cliff nodded in from the edge of the 6 yard box. 

As reactions to a moment of adversity go, this couldn’t have been more comprehensive. The Hillmen will now look to carry this momentum into Saturday’s visit to AFC Blackpool.

GNE: Williams, Bockarie (Young), Russell, Lugsden, Adams, Allen, Byrne (Cliff), Kilheeney, Bailey (Riley), Hare, Blackshaw.