Hare’s moment of madness costs Hillmen dearly

Glossop North End 0, Maine Road 2
NWCFL Cup 2nd Round

Match Report: Jonathan Haggart
Pictures: Jim Lockwood

10-man Glossop North End crashed out of the NWCFL Cup at their first hurdle for the third consecutive year as league leaders Maine Road came to Surrey Street and won for the second time this season. 

The first half was a tough one to watch with defences well on top and chances on goal absent. It took until the 35th minute for the game to even show the slightest of attacking spark when Tom Bailey made room for himself at the edge of the area and curled a shot goalwards, however the ball hit the bar and bounced to safety.

The game started to open up a little and Hill shot wide for the visitors as did Lee Blackshaw for the Hillmen. Then in the 42nd minute Road made the breakthrough as Henderson picked up the ball in the box with only Williams to beat. The North End keeper saved with his legs only for the ball to loop up into the path of Bentham, who nodded over the prone custodian into the net.

Glossop started the second half extremely brightly and inside the first minute Harry Bockarie’s cut back to Bailey was foiled by a bobble just as the leading scorer shaped to shoot, meaning his shot went wide. Minutes later, Byrne controlled a diagonal pass well on his chest, knocking it into his path in the area but his dangerous cross was taken by the keeper at the second attempt.

Pressure continued, as Nick Allen just missed a low cross along the 6 yard line and Riley’s textbook downward header was blocked by a defender’s body.

However, on 65 minutes the stuffing was knocked out of the home side as Sam Hare was given his marching orders for a second yellow card. The midfielder had already been booked for a late tackle when he himself was upended late by Breslin . It should have been a free kick and probably a booking for Breslin, but the referee thought otherwise and a frustrated Hare pushed Breslin to the floor. The ref certainly spotted that, and produced a second yellow for Hare’s reaction. Hare could have complaints about the tackle, but none about his sanction.

Despite being a man light, Glossop continued to press and Jordan Goodeve had a shot from the edge of the area blocked and Matthew Russell headed just over from a Byrne cross. The pressing game would of course leave North End vulnerable on the break and Hill nearly scored when beating Williams to the ball, but could only hit a weak shot. 

North End’s best chance came when Mason allowed a goal kick to bounce, and Nathan Neequaye nipped him between him and the keeper to loop a header over the goalie, but it went wide. Just a couple of minutes later Road doubled their lead when a low free kick was spilled by Williams, the ball bouncing off his body into the path of Bentham who tapped in.

Glossop never gave up, but by this time were effectively down to nine-and-a-half men with Russell limping profusely and Maine Road’s stout defence was not to be breached.

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