Winsford United 0 Glossop North End 3
Match Report: Stewart Taylor
Pictures: Jim Lockwood
Somewhat contrasting fortunes had favoured these sides in the first matches of the new season last Saturday. Winsford had recorded a fine 3-1 away win at Wigan Robin Park whereas the Hillmen were the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline at home to Ashton Athletic. Expectations amongst a healthy mid-week crowd were high as the home side looked to consolidate that first win and the visitors in need of a change of fortune.
The match started at high tempo with the youthful Winsford side closing down any space rapidly. The Hillmen began to exert some control in midfield but it was not until the 14th minute that the first significant action came. Poor defending from a corner, swung in from the left by Jordan Goodeve, allowed Dave Young the simplest of finishes at the far post to open the scoring.
GNE then looked to press home their advantage and the remainder of the first half was a story of missed chances by the visitors and, at times, heroic goalkeeping by Andrew Jones in the home net. 1-0 to the Hillmen at half-time with everyone around the ground thinking that a 5-0 margin would have been an accurate reflection of the play.
The Hillmen started the second half with a changed formation but no change in personnel. At times it looked to be something like a 3-6-1 formation with Tom Bailey leading the attack and Lincoln Adams, Dave Young and Harry Bockarie making up the back three. Initially it was one way traffic again with the visitors making all of the play but the Blues of Winsford started to come back into the match and were having a decent spell until the only real bit of controversy in the match. On 72 minutes a shot from Bailey, after good work on the left by Lee Blackshaw, beat Jones and the celebrations started only to be curtailed by a flag from the assistant referee. The referee and his assistant consulted and the goal stood, much to the disappointment of the home side. It was later explained that the assistant flagged because he was unsure if Lee Morris, who was in an offside position, had touched the ball or not. The referee confirmed that he had not so the goal stood – good officiating.
The game continued to be played mainly in the home half and the result was assured courtesy of the best goal of the match in the 84th minute. A precise through ball from Daley Rothwell found Morris one-on-one with Jones. Morris calmly rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home from a narrow angle.
The match then faded away to a conclusion and a most satisfactory conclusion for the visitors. Winsford have much work to do to mould a new, young, side that have had little preparation time, into a well functioning unit. For GNE , there are some stern challenges ahead but this victory will have given them a lot of confidence.
Qui audet adipiscitur.
GNE: Proctor, Byrne, Bockarie, Young, Adams, Allen, Rothwell (Turner), Goodeve, Bailey (James), Neequaye (Morris), Blackshaw.
