Atherton Collieries 0, Glossop North End 2
Men United League Cup Final
Thursday 30th April 2015
Played at Curzon Ashton

Match Report – Jonathan Haggart
Photographer – Jim Lockwood

It was the Premier League champions vs the First Division champions. Both teams had won their respective leagues despite punishing schedules, and clearly had plenty of talent, Colls not least with their former-Hillman 60+ goals striker Mark Battersby. The game had been anticipated as it looked a potential classic.

However, the match up never really happened, as the main difference between the two sides on the night was discipline. Atherton lost theirs – ironically just as they had got a foothold in the game – and ended the night with just nine men.

North End had started like a train, the pace of Sam Hind and Mark Reed causing them all sorts of problems at the back. Hind went very close from Reed’s through ball, lobbing the stranded keeper but just over the target, and also had a shot after a run from and angle saved at the near post.

Reed also headed a Bowler cross wide as the early pressure built, but when the lead game in the 10th minute from a corner it was rather fortunate. Tom Bailey swung it in, and it seemed to rebound off Kelvin Lugsden into the net – no-one was quite convinced that Lugsden knew too much about the finish – but the goal advantage had been earned.

The Hillmen continued to press and forced a number of corners, although they couldn’t hurt Collieries with any of them. Up until the 25th minute they clearly the upper hand, but slowly Colls were beginning to settle. On 35 minutes good Battersby work in the box laid Kristian Holt at the edge of the area, but his shot was saved by Greg Hall

Suddenly Glossop were struggling to hold onto the ball, and putting themselves under pressure, and it looked like we had a game on our hands. But as soon as that feeling came, Atherton self-destructed.

With 5 minutes of the half left, Eddie Moran was fouled late by Brad Cooke, a tackle that would have been a yellow card. Moran jumped up to confront Cooke, and Michael Bowler also joined the argument, only for Cooke to take exception to the protests and headbutt the Glossop full back.
A melee ensued and no-one would have a clear view of what happened in the mesh of bodies, but Cooke’s offence was clear and the referee had no option to dismiss him when everything had finally calmed down. It seemed odd that Bowler was subsequently booed – and spat on – by Atherton supporters. The former is pantomime, but the latter is out of order.

The second half started with Glossop North End looking to take advantage of the extra man, and they got a gilt edged chance in the 49th minute was Mark Reed was bundled over in the box. The referee pointed to the spot, and Eddie Moran stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.

Battersby was always dangerous, and put a drive from the edge of the area just over the bar. However, the striker was visibly showing his frustration about how the game was going, and having already been booked was foolish to barge into Richard Gresty as he cleared the ball. Although Battersby took Gresty’s kicking leg, and the referee had little option to book him again and reduce Colls to nine.

From there, the Hillmen were content to hold onto possession, not exerting themselves too much with the FA Vase final coming up, and largely they passed it around the back. Tom Bailey had a couple of efforts when openings were probed open, but headed wide, and shot at the Colls keeper.

The game was already won though, and Glossop’s already extraordinary season got a touch better.

The NWCFL cup is an absolute beauty, and the players and management gleefully showed it off to the sizeable support.

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Glossop North End 2, Bootle 1
Men United League Cup
Saturday 4th April 2015

Match Report – Jonathan Haggart
Photographer – Jim Lockwood

Glossop face a punishing run of games in the next few weeks – they must play Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays this week – following the NWCFL decision to refuse and extension to the season. As a result they were in a hurry to complete this tie ASAP, and they very nearly succeeded.

The opening goal came in the 8th minute when Dave Young curled a low free kick from the left corner of the box into the right corner of the net, his 13th goal of a prolific season.

North End were running Bootle ragged with their pace and crisp passing and Michael Bowler’s interplay with Lee Blackshaw nearly led to a goal with Jack Mano saving at the near post.

The second goal came on 20 minutes when Jason Carey put in a sumptuous cross from the right that landed at the feet of Tom Bailey, 6 yards out, and he finished coolly.

The game should have been sealed two minutes later when a defender went through the back of Carey, who was trying to latch onto a clearance from Blackshaw’s parried shot. However, the penalty, which Carey took himself, was slow and central and Mano saved comfortably.

Bootle had played shell-shocked, and perhaps Tom Peterson was suffering on 25 minutes when set up by an O’Connor flick on, because he should have pulled on back, but screwed wide from 6 yards.

Meanwhile, Glossop continued to press and Blackshaw’s cross was heading to the top corner until curling OFF the line, and the same player was just denied by the onrushing Mano has he tried to nick the ball around him. As the half came to an end, Carey netted with a header but was pulled up for climbing.

The second half saw Glossop try to conserve energy and take their foot off the gas and it nearly cost them. In truth there was little action in either goalmouth, but tricky winger Kieran Halligan was coming more to the fore for the visitors.

The worrying moments didn’t come until 9 minutes from the end when Martin Parker was a little clumsy at a free kick and brought down Jamie Hay. Peterson netted the penalty and the game could have been on.

However it was Glossop who had the better chances towards the end, Kieran Lugsden denied twice by Mano. It didn’t mean that the home side weren’t delighted to hear the final whistle though, and they could celebrate reaching the 30th April final, likely to be played at the home of Curzon Ashton.

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Glossop North End are next in action this coming Bank Holiday Monday when we make the short trip to Abbey Hey. Kick off is at 15:00.

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The full draw for the Third Round of the MEN United Cup is as follows:

1. 1874 Northwich v Colne
2. Abbey Hey v Atherton Collieries
3. Runcorn Town v Cammell Laird 1907
4. Alsager Town v AFC Liverpool
5. Glossop North End v Widnes
6. Squires Gate v Winsford United
7. Bootle v Stockport Sports or AFC Darwen
8. West Didsbury & Chorlton v Rochdale Town

Ties to be played on Saturday 29th November 2014.

The post North End Paired With Widnes In The Men United Cup 3rd Round appeared first on Glossop North End AFC.