Glossop North End

2

Prescot Cables

1

HT: 0 - 1

With their visitors having conceded twenty-one goals in four games – including four against the Hillmen last week – Glossop North End were expected to despatch of Prescot straightforwardly in this Preliminary Round FA Cup tie on Saturday. However, Cables went back to basics; a game plan to defend deep and hope to pinch something. It very nearly worked too as they led until the 88th minute, only for Glossop to prevail with a couple of late late goals.

Glossop North End bossed possession throughout, but in the first half could not make the dominance on the ball count in terms of making the goalkeeper work.

In the opening minutes it was clear that the North End plan was to turn around the central defence and run onto the ball behind them. A strong wind made the passes hard to judge, although Kieran Lugsden angled drive looked goal-bound but for the intervention of Shane Glean’s body.

However Prescot took the lead on 14 minutes, and it was an absolute beauty. Cables were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and central. Rob Doran stepped up to take it and curled the ball past the wall and into the top left hand corner. Greg Hall had no chance.

Before half time Glossop created chances but failed to test Jack Cookson in the Prescot goal. Kelvin Lugsden headed over, Jamie Rainford shot across the face of goal from the corner of the box and on the stroke of the break Jason Carey just couldn’t get above a deep cross and headed over the bar.

The second half started with two unexpected chances for Cables, but Doran put a good opportunity over the bar and Phil Bannister curled an effort wide. From there though, Glossop North End took over.

Jordan Evason just couldn’t reach Michael Bowler’s wicked cross when sliding despairingly at the far post whilst Carey directed his header across goal just over the angle and the same player’s header did beat the keeper on the hour mark, only for Glean to clear off the line. Cables were scrapping for their lives.

Cookson then pulled off an incredible save, diving full length to his left to push Rainford’s diving header wide before Kieran Lugsden finally had the ball in the net on 74 minutes only for him to be (correctly) ruled offside.

Indeed, North End would have two more goals chalked off for a linesman’s flag. Eddie Moran’s header also looked the right call, but when Tom Bailey netted with three minutes to go the call looked wrong, and it seemed it wasn’t to be Glossop’s day.

However, just a minute later a Bailey effort did count. It was a punt forward from the back that was too long, bouncing comfortably into the hands of Cookson. However, the keeper lost concentration and fumbled to the feet of Bailey, who coolly placed the ball into the empty net. How cruel this game can be for keepers. Cookson was man of the match in a 4-0 defeat last weekend, pulled off a miraculous save earlier, and yet was now the villain of the piece.

With all the momentum behind them, a chance for Glossop North End to win it looked inevitable, and it came two minutes into injury time when an angled ball from the left beat the back line and found Rainford lurking on the right of the box. He controlled and despatched the ball under the advancing Cookson to win it. You can’t say it wasn’t deserved, but all but Glossop fans would have felt for Cables.

It had been a very close call, but North End picked up the £1,925 prize money and secured a home time with Skelmersdale United in the 1st Qualifying Round.