Five Star Hillmen Ease Past Boro

Glossop North End 5 Oldham Boro 1
Manchester Premier Cup 1st Round

Match Report: Jonathan Haggart
Pictures: Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End comfortably sealed progress into the next round of the Manchester Premier Cup at Surrey Street on Tuesday, easing to victory in a thoroughly professional performance.  In doing so, they will have handily dealt with any hangover from FA Cup defeat with Saturday’s home tie against Formby imminent.

The Hillmen started the game on a hiding to nothing, playing as they were a team from a division below.   But unlike in previous seasons, where teams from lower down the ladder have beaten weakened North End sides, Chris Willcock showed respect to the competition and the opposition and played a full strength team.   That was rewarded with a comprehensive win.

All the early play was with the home side, and in the 5^th minute Sam Marshall should have opened the scoring when meeting Kelvin Lugsden’s deep cross with his head.  However, from short range his nod across the goal went wide of the post.  Tom Bailey too should have notched in the 9^th minute but after seeing his swept shot saved he somehow shot wide when the ball landed back at his feet.

However, the Glossop pressure kept coming and in the 23^rd minute the breakthrough finally game.  A corner was swung in from the left and the push on Marshall could hardly have been more blatant, the winger sent sprawling.  Dave Young stepped up and netted the spot kick.

Kay shot just wide and a Bailey/Hare one-two ended with Bailey just missing the target, as North End looked to add to the lead.  It took until the 41^st minute however for the second goal to come.  Jamie Kay appeared to be shooting from about 30 yards, but his low drive fell nicely for Bailey at the edge of the area.  He took a touch, turned, and half volleyed the ball past Pearson.

It took just 3 second half minutes for the game to be effectively sealed.  A Byrne cross was turned behind for a corner and the flag kick was allowed to drop onto the head of Marshall – one of the smallest men on the field – and he simply had to nod home from short range.

Glossop switched off a little, and Kershaw reminded them there were two teams playing with a shot that hit the top of the bar and on 57 minutes they did pull one back.  A free kick from 35 yards was drilled into the area and Kay hung out a leg to deflect it past Dean Williams for an unfortunate own goal.

North End responded, and Marshall’s volley was just over the bar whilst Kay forced a terrific save from Pearson with a volley of his own.  In the 69^th minute though, the 3 goal lead was restored when Bailey beat the offside trap to latch onto Byrne’s lofted pass.  He took the ball into the box and rounded the keeper for the 4^th.

The final goal came with 7 minutes to goal when Sam Marshall, who tormented the Oldham right back all night, again got a chance to cross.  Although the ball was behind front man Jon Stephenson, Byrne was arriving from midfield, and drove it past Pearson.