Glossop North End

2

Kendal Town

0

HT: 2 - 0

Rainford Brace Sees Hillmen Top

Glossop North End 2, Kendal Town 0

Glossop took full advantage of Northwich Vics’ FA Cup game by leapfrogging them at the top of the league with this impressive win against fifth place Kendal Town.

It was a great team performance from back to front, and having taken a two goal lead early on they rarely looked troubled by the Cumbrian side, and in truth should probably have added to their lead.

In the early part of the game the teams exchanged chances, Kendal’s Dan Forbes flicking a header wide before Jamie Rainford looked to be tugged back in the box for Glossop North End, but the referee saw it differently.

However Rainford was not to be denied in the 12th minute. Dave Young played a ball from centre half to Astley Mulholland. Mulholland turned cleverly to give him a chance to run at the defence and played a ball between the centre halves. Rainford beat the offside trap and won the race with the keeper, knocking it past him and leaving him stranded, and the striker was able to collect his own pass and tap into the empty net.

Minutes later the same combination combined again for the second. This time Mulholland pinched the ball on the left and threaded a pass behind the full back. Rainford was alert as always, picked up the pass and curled a shot around the keeper inside the far post.

Glossop had an escape on 25 minutes when Craig Carney sidefooted a shot from the edge of the area after a near build up. His effort hit the underside of the bar and bounced down into the arms of a grateful Greg Hall.

There was another let off on 39 minutes when a long throw caused some chaos in the GNE box and the ball again fell to Carney. His low shot was blocked on the line by Young and cleared. From the corner, Glossop broke and Rainford nearly made it a hat-trick, but his shot just cleared the uprights.

As half time approached Rainford nearly turned provider when passing to Mulholland at the edge of the area. He missed his kick, but the ball fell nicely into the path of Tom Bailey. However, Bailey blasted it over the bar.

In the second half, after an early scare where Dave Young was forced to block a Jordan Connerton shot, the Hillmen effectively shut Kendal down as an attacking unit. Glossop looked more likely to score, and had a decent penalty shot turned down when Martyn Andrews was felled in the box.

Mulholland’s low free kick was only parried by the keeper but Young couldn’t quite get his body in position to net the follow up despite being first on the scene, so he laid the ball back to Mulholland, but he shot over.

Further shots came from Ashley Stott, whose long range effort dipped just over, and Kieran Lugsden, who was stretching when clearing the goals with his shot. It was a surprisingly comfortable win at the start of a run of league games against teams in the top half of the season. Clitheroe, who took fifth place from Kendal following this result, are up next at Surrey Street on Tuesday.