Hillmen victorious after masterful second half display

West Didsbury & Chorlton 1, Glossop North End 3
NWCFL Premier Division

Match Report: Jonathan Haggart
Pictures: Jim Lockwood

Glossop North End responded to a lacklustre first half with a second 45 three goal salvo that lifted them into the top half of the table in a night of spectacular goals in Chorlton.

Despite starting brightly, with Tom Bailey looking lively and forcing the keeper to save with his legs and then lifting a shot from a tight angle just over the bar, things started to go wrong for the Hillmen when conceding in the 22^nd minute.

Tre Baldwin-Willis collected the ball from a short throw-in level with the 18 yard line, and after controlling he unleashed a dipping shot on the turn which cleared Dean Williams as it dropped from the sky and landed in the top corner.

Williams was shellshocked, although there was little he could do about the goal in truth, but he nearly presented an opportunity to Jones when he mis-kicked a clearance leaving his goal gaping.  Jones, fortunately for Williams, wasn’t up to the task and shot wide.

Glossop struggled for fluency, although they might have been more comfortable had Rogers received the second yellow card his challenge on Paul Cliff deserved, but Chris Willcock had seen enough by 37 minutes and changed the formation, bringing on Kye Riley to hold the ball up top.   However, the Hillmen still went into the break behind as Nick Allen drove a fierce shot wide.

Parity was restored soon after the break though.  From a free kick 25 yards out, just to the right of the ‘D’, Bailey stepped up and curled an effort around the wall and into the top corner.  Quality goal number two of the game…and the best was yet to come.

Allen had a shot saved by the keeper’s legs as GNE pressed for the lead and Riley was given offside when clean through and looking a yard or so the correct side of the defence when the ball was played.  However, the lead came on 62 minutes.

From a West Didsbury corner the ball was cleared upfield to the right side touchline, where Bailey collected.  He was on his own up front though, so kept possession to allow colleagues to catch up, whilst advancing inside across the edge of the penalty box.  The home side failed to challenge effectively, backing off to give Bailey space to look up and with the outside of his boot launched a placed shot into the top corner.  It was a moment of real quality, and it is no wonder other clubs have been enquiring about the North End leading scorer.

2-1 is always dangerous though, and Glossop were grateful for a further goal on 78 minutes when Andy Kilheeney netted his first for the club.  It was the first goal of the night from inside the penalty box after Jordan Goodeve shaped to shoot from the edge of the box but instead passed inside for Kilheeney.  He looked up and picked his spot in the corner of the net, for what in any other night would be a cracking goal.  Pity for Kilheeney there had been some barnstormers earlier on.

Nevertheless, it sealed an important three points as The Hillmen set about trying to turn the games in hand they have on other sides into points.

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