1874 Northwich vs Glossop North End

Recap

1874 NORTHWICH 0-3 GLOSSOP NORTH END FA VASE 3RD RD 6TH DECEMBER 2014

1874 Northwich’s unbeaten run ended at twenty games as they were knocked out of the FA Vase by fellow NWCFL high flyers Glossop North End.

An eagerly anticipated encounter between two evenly matched teams, both receiving backing from large vocal elements in the 421 strong crowd, was shaped by a red card.

After an initial feeling out period in which both goalkeepers were called into action, the hard fought game sparked when Lee Jones was sent off by referee Craig Taylor. Tangling with a Glossop player in the centre circle, Jones reacted to being kneed by grabbing his opponent and shoving him to the ground. Despite players from both sides swapping handbags during a get together in the middle of the pitch, no further punishments were dished out making a difficult task for the greens even harder.

As 1874 were re-organising their troops, the visitors started to take control with Lee Blackshaw prominent. He turned a cross inches wide of the target from close range and forced Matt Conkie to tip a dangerous cross away to safety. Sandwiched in between his two efforts he set up Glossop’s opening goal in the 27th minute. His cross from the left wing was flicked on to Kieran Lugsden, who from six yards out with his back to goal steered the ball past Conkie.

Starting to find their rhythm, ten man 1874 finished the first half the stronger. With five minutes to the break Mike Brandon raced onto a ball played over the Glossop defence narrowly shooting wide. As the half drew to a close Glossop goalkeeper Greg Hall pulled off a fine save to deny Neil Chappell and Stuart Wellstead shot wide after Glossop struggled to clear their lines.

1874 forced a corner in the opening minutes of the second half which Danny Thomas controlled and with his back to goal, executed an acrobatic overhead bicycle kick which was saved by Hall. Playing behind a solid backline, Hall dealt confidently with everything 1874 threw at the Glossop rearguard as they tried to find a way back into the tie. Hall did well to hold onto a fiercely struck Brandon shot from a tight angle.

As hard as 1874 worked, Glossop’s numerical advantage started to have an effect as the half progressed. Glossop striker Tom Bailey had two glorious chances to put the game to bed. Jason Carey sprung the off side trap to race clear, drawing Conkie to the right hand side of the box he passed to Bailey on the left, who took too much time allowing Conkie to recover to smoother his shot. A minute later Bailey was played in behind the 1874 defence smashing a shot against the crossbar.

Blackshaw had a powerfully struck angled volley well saved by Conkie before Glossop doubled their lead in the 72nd minute. Lugsden bundled home his second goal of the afternoon in a goalmouth scramble after 1874 failed to clear from a corner. 1874 kept battling to the end, but Glossop added a third in the 80th minute when Ed Moran rifled a shot home from the edge of the area.

1874 – Conkie, Mitchell, Duckworth (Short 76mins), Thomas, Woolley, Chappell, Wellstead, Jones, Brandon, Ward, Stewart (Woods 65mins). Subs not used Connor, Beadle, Bayley.

GLOSSOP – Hall, Richardson, Russell, Kelvin Lugsden, Young, Bowler (Parker 85mins), Blackshaw, Carey (Denham 60mins), Bailey (Grimshaw 65mins), Kieran Lugsden, Moran. Subs not used Hind, Gresty.

GOALS – Glossop NE Kieran Lugsden 27, 72, Moran 80

ATTENDANCE 421 REFEREE Craig Taylor