GLOSSOP NORTH END 1 v 0 SILSDEN AFC

Hamilton 75, Att.257

MAGNIFICENT THORPE PUNISHED FOR A MOMENT’S HESITATION

Cobbydale keeper, Daniel Thorpe, made a string of superb saves to deny the in-form “Hillmen” for seventy-five minutes, until his moment of hesitation led to the only goal of the game. Thorpe had been outstanding in a game which the Hillmen dominated from the off, with some slick movement and passing, on a balmy afternoon in the Peak District.

Silsden boss, Chris Reape, who was hoping to build on last week’s victory, was without the services of Bland, Hanson and Barker. David Blackstock came in at right back with Rob Barraclough partnering Rob Morgan in the heart of the defence. Following the euphoria of a visit to Wembley in the F.A.Vase last season, Glossop have only just begun to find their feet. Having lost several players from last season’s success, they are now adjusting, and following a fine run in October, they attracted a large, enthusiastic crowd.

Silsden were under pressure from the off and nearly conceded in the opening minute, when a collision between Thorpe, Morgan and Glossop striker, Darren Hamilton, left the Silsden keeper lying on the ground. Rob Barraclough managed to deny Hamilton with a timely interception. Kelvin Lugsden then shot wide after good work down the right by Hamilton. A slick move between Rick Bailey and Sam Hind ended, when the former wasted another good opportunity. Fine tackles from Tim Hird and Danny McNulty stemmed the tide for a while but Silsden were finding it difficult to keep the ball.

Midway through the half, Bailey hit a sweet volley to the left of the Silsden keeper but Thorpe was equal to the challenge, pushing the ball wide. Hird and Morgan both blocked follow-up shots from the Hillmen full-backs. Thorpe’s second save was even better. Hird had broken up the right and crossed towards the penalty spot. Alex Elliott, tracked by Barraclough, stepped over the ball leaving Bailey with a clear opening. Thorpe, moving to his right, twisted back to palm the ball away with his left hand. Gorton headed another cross from Hind wide of the target and Elliot sent a delicate chip over Thorpe’s bar.

For much of the half Silsden had been on the back-foot with the willing strikers starved of possession. Morgan, who had been outstanding in the air at the back, moved up for a free kick from McNulty. Danny Finn just failed to reach Morgan’s header. Simpson shot over the bar as the half came to a close.

The Cobbydalers started the second half with more belief. A cross from Harry Thompson was headed clear but only to Finn, on the edge of the box. Finn hit a sweet half-volley which Cooper managed to tip over his bar. Back came Glossop with a succession of corners. Yates headed one wide but when Thorpe was unable to reach the other, Blackstock cleared off the Silsden line. The Cobbydalers broke forwards. Ryan slid the ball to Hird, who missed an opportunity to shoot before being closed down. A storming fifty-yard run down the left by McNulty set up Simpson, who shot low and hard to the near post. Cooper dived to deny the Cobbydalers the lead. When Kevin Ryan, twelve yards out, finally managed to free himself of his marker, he again found Cooper in fine form.

The Hillmen almost took the lead on seventy minutes. Hamilton broke free from the centre circle with Silsden looking for the offside flag. Hamilton rounded Thorpe but there was Blackstock to put in a superb tackle two yards from the Silsden line. Reape’s coaching has worked wonders with the young fullback, who looked totally out of his depth a month ago.

Glossop brought on substitute, Jordan McNally, who was soon testing Thorpe with a low drive. Thorpe managed to deflect the shot for a corner. When Bailey weaved his way between Blackstock and Whiteoak and slid the ball across the area, there was an expectancy that the opener was on the cards. McNally hit the ball with all his power but Thorpe, at full stretch, tipped the ball over. There was a gasp of disbelief from the Glossop faithful.

With fifteen minutes to go, Silsden looked as if they had weathered the storm but controversy was to follow. The ball was in midfield when a Glossop player, challenged by Finn, appeared to dive. The Silsden players stopped and appealed for a free kick. How many times have junior players been told to play to the whistle? The official ignored Silsden’s pleas and the ball was moved into the space down the right to where McNally had advanced. Thorpe rushed off his line, hesitated, and then carried on with his now hopeless quest. McNally won the chase easily and crossed towards the empty goal. HAMILTON tapped the ball home at the far post. Was he offside? There was a brief consultation between the officials but the goal stood.

McNally shot wide as the Cobbydalers pushed forwards and, as the game was coming to its conclusion, substitute Matthew Kershaw slid the ball to Cooper’s near post. Ryan ran across the goal ahead of his marker but his shot was inches wide. It had been a thoroughly entertaining game. Reape was frustrated with the way in which the goal came, but it was clear that his depleted side had done him proud with their effort and commitment.

Next Saturday the Cobbydalers entertain second in the league, Congleton Town.

GLOSSOP NORTH END Cooper, Young, Kay, Lugsden, Yates, Gorton, Bailey(Trucca), Elliot, Hind(McNally), Hamilton(Pickering), Oakes. Subs. dnp. Smallwood, Williams.

SILSDEN AFC Thorpe, Blacklock(Kershaw), McNulty, Barraclough, Morgan, Finn, Thompson(Bathers), Hird, Ryan, Simpson, D. Whiteoak. Sub. dnp. Longley