North End withstood a spirited performance by their Leeds based opponents, holding on to a lead obtained in the opening minutes of the game through a combination of dogged defending and an outstanding save by Greg Hall.
Farsley looked a useful outfit throughout, particularly their playmaker, ex-Mossley man Lewis Nightingale, who was pulling the strings in midfield. However, North End started with a sense of purpose, and took the lead in the 9th minute, although there was an element of luck involved.
The ball was played over the back line, Jamie Rainford beating the offside trap and finding himself in a race with centre half Kyle Harrison and keeper Tom Taylor to the ball. However, Harrison and Taylor comically collided into each other and were both sent sprawling, leaving Rainford the simple task of walking the loose ball into the net.
The was nothing simple about his and North End’s second though. This time Rainford picked up the ball at the edge of the centre circle and strode towards goal. As he reached the edge of the box he looked up and unleashed a shot of power and accuracy that Taylor could not stop. It was a beauty, but credit must also go to Rainford’s team-mates who ran the angles to his left and right as he ran forward with the ball, creating the space for him to maraud into.
It looked like an easy win was on the cards, but Farsley had other ideas, and gradually recovered and started to win plenty of possession. Glossop defended well though, marshalling their 18 yard box and restricting the opposition to long shots that Hall dealt with comfortably. That is, until the 43 minute when neat football on the right saw the ball worked inside to Neil Stevens on the penalty spot, and he swept the ball in.
Nightingale had a couple of early second half half-chances, but shot wide and then high. Overall though, midfields were in the ascendancy and chances were scant at either end. Astley Mulholland had a deflected shot saved by Taylor and Hall saved well from Josh Grant at his near post. Rainford nearly got his hat-trick when jinking into the box, but his fierce drive was pushed away, and the rebound when through the legs of Tom Bailey as he tried to adjust himself to shoot.
Hall saved a curling Robbie O’Brien shot before, with 10 minutes left, Grant drove a good effort from the edge of the area. It caught a body and took a wicked deflection, but Hall adjusted himself superbly and pushed the ball around the post. Hall has had a relatively quiet season thus far, but he proved himself here.
Farsley continued to push, but didn’t really force another effort of note, despite Glossop effectively being down to 10 men after Kelvin Lugsden picked up and injury and the referee adding on nine minutes of injury time. It was a relief to hear the final whistle, so that the points were secure, and supporters could finally get away from the midges that had been biting them all evening.
The Hillmen are now consolidated in second place in the division, with only 100% Northwich Victoria in front of them. Next up is a break from league action on Saturday, when Skelmersdale United visit in the Emirates FA Cup.
| Name | GLS | AST | |
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| 7 | 2 | ||
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| 11 | — |
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| 14 | — |
