Glossop North End

4

Clitheroe

1

HT: 4 - 0

Rainford Treble Keeps Hillmen Top

Glossop North End 4, Clitheroe 1

Glossop North End’s run at the top of the table was extended with a superb first half performance at Surrey Street, the league’s leading scorer Jamie Rainford again doing most of the damage with a clinical hat trick.

Clitheroe had actually started quickly, and Sefton Gonzales had a couple of half chances early on, but put a header wide, and saw his shot at the near post blocked.

However, North End scored on their first attack. Tom Bailey won a bouncing ball and nodded it on to Astley Mulholland. The forward played a short pass right to Jamie Rainford, opening up the angle, and although his first time shot across the keeper was saved by Sam Guthrie, he netted the follow up after the ball dropped to his feet.

Within 3 more minutes it was 2-0. This time a free kick on the left was swung in by Andy Smart. Dave Young met it at the far post, headed it across goal, and Rainford had the simple task of tapping in at the far post.

Clitheroe continued to try and press, particularly through the pace of Scott Bakkor, but didn’t create a chance, and found themselves further up against it on 22 minutes when Kieran Lugsden made it 3-0. The ball was played long from the right back position over the full back, and Lugsden was in a race to the corner of the box with Guthrie. Lugsden won the race, and lobbed the ball accurately over the keeper, the ball bouncing once before entering the empty net.

Amazingly it was 4-0 on 25 minutes. Mulholland was put in and looked to have a clear run on goal, only to be brought down by Daniel Brady on the edge of the area – the Clitheroe man very fortunate to escape with just a yellow card.

However, from the free kick Jamie Rainford curled the ball around the wall into the corner or the net to complete his hat trick. It was an absolute beauty, curled around the edge that he would have been least expected to. Guthrie had no chance.

There might have been more goals before half time, Rainford chipping a shot on the turn just over the bar, and Moran’s cross-cum-shot nearly dipping in before Guthrie tipped it over, but the second half was a different kettle of fish altogether.

With the game effectively won Glossop switched off in the second half and Clitheroe, fresh from a half time roasting you’d expect, raised their game. It made for a few anxious moments.

Gonzalez’s turn and shot forced a good save from Hall and Bakkor following in headed over the empty net. There were numerous shots from outside the area that went over the bar, and the North End defence largely defended their 18 yard box well, despite the pressure outside it.

However, Gonzalez finally found some space in the 73rd minute with a clever turn on the edge of the area, which opened up space for himself. He shot across the keeper, but again Hall was equal to it, pushing the ball away.

However, on 76 Clitheroe finally did break through when this time Callum Hendry found space in the box and placed a shot into the far corner to make it 4-1.

It was surely too late for a comeback, but credit to Clitheroe, they kept going and Gonzalez again got space to shoot but hit it over and Hall had to save right on full time, pushing away a fierce shot at his near post.

Chris Willock had taken the chance to rest a few in the second half, with the game won and another big trip to come on Saturday, as Glossop North End head to Brighouse Town. With Brighouse beating Spennymoor tonight, the Hillmen are now the only unbeaten team in the Northern Premier League but that record will be tested again in Yorkshire.