North West Counties Football League Premier Division
Glossop North End 1 West Didsbury & Chorlton 0
Match Report: Stewart Taylor
NWCFL Premier Division newcomers West Didsbury and Chorlton came to Surrey Street on Tuesday for their first ever visit having so far failed to register a League point this season but bolstered by a win in the FA Cup against Abbey Hey on Saturday. West were shorn of a number of first team regulars due to injuries and work commitments whereas the Hillmen were fielding a largely unchanged side.
The match started as many other GNE matches this season with the Hillmen forcing the pace from the start. Chris Hirst and Lee Blackshaw were both prominent early on with imaginative breaks from midfield forcing good defensive work from West’s back four. GNE had the ball in the net after only three minutes as a cross, following good work on the right by Blackshaw, found Nathan Neequaye in the area. His header was too much for the young West goalkeeper Ross Booth but the effort was chalked off as the assistant referee raised his flag for a disputed offside. Tom Bailey has scored most of the goals for GNE this season and he was close to adding to his tally after 8 minutes. Hirst forced his way into the West area, the ball fell for Bailey but his effort was cleared off the line.
Bailey did not have to wait too long before getting on the scoresheet. On 30 minutes a backpass to Booth put him under pressure, he fluffed his rushed clearance and Bailey was on hand to open the scoring with a shot from close range.
Half time came with West having had very few, even half, chances but the home side were only ahead by that single goal having failed to take advantage of a dominant display.
West started the second half with their best spell of the match but the game was lacking any continuity as numerous fouls were committed so breaking up any pattern of constructive play. The Hillmen were still creating chances and a couple were engineered for Bailey and Blackshaw but they both failed to convert. The match degenerated further into a physical battle with the home side keeping their discipline as West picked up a number of cautions ending with the sending off of defender Alex Baird. It was a nervous last few minutes for the home supporters as West tried to rescue something from the match but, in truth, Ben Proctor in the GNE goal was little troubled all night and the last chance of the game came when substitute Daley Rothwell forced his way into the box and won a corner. Nothing came of a short corner on the left hand side and that was that.
A disappointing match in terms of a spectacle but the Hillmen will savour the three points and look forward to the next match at home to Wigan Robin Park on Saturday.
constantia et virtute
GNE Team Proctor, Byrne, Bockarie, Lugsden, Young, Goodeve, Ellison (Allen), Hirst (Rothwell), Bailey, Neequaye, Blackshaw (James).
