MDTFC Dig Deep To Earn A Point In 2-2 Draw v Glossop North End

For a pleasant change Manager Martyn Davies had a large squad of players to select from, resulting in several changes to the line up from last week's game at Colne, when the squad was down to the bare bones.

Desean Martin was unavailable due to suspension and Ash Rawlins unavailable due to injury. It was great to see Ash on the road to recovery taking part in the pre-match warm up.

As the game got under way there was little indication of the diabolical weather that was to come; which would turn the match into a mud bath.

Glossop had an early chance to score with a powerful shot just clearing the MDTFC crossbar.

The early part of the game was fairly equaled balanced; with the tall Glossop defenders dealing comfortably with the high balls.

On 20 minutes Charlie Knowles was taken out in full flight by Moussa Samassa; Charlie taking a heavy knock in the process requiring lengthy treatment - Samassa received a 'yellow card', which on another day would have been a red!

Ryan Mclean had been troubling the Glossop defence with his weaving runs and on 24 minutes he turned the defenders inside out to cross a beaut of a ball into the area, where Glynn Coney scored the opening goal for MDTFC.

Very heavy rain was now making playing conditions very difficult and it took two great stops from G/K Mason Springthorpe to prevent Glossop from equalising.

Half Time MDTFC 1 Glossop 0

Within two minutes of the second half Glossop equalised via Peter Boyle 1-1

Five minutes into the second half we found ourselves trailing 1-2 - Simon Gregory had received a 'yellow card' and the resultant free kick was drilled into a packed MDTFC goal area, where it was converted by Jack O'Leary.

Playing conditions continued to be dreadful.

On 53 minutes new signing Jordan Davies replaced Charlie Knowles - Jordan shows great promise and made some searching runs at the Glossop defence.

The Glossop keeper Russell Saunders then produced an outstanding save to turn a Dan Beddows pile driver around the post.

On 68 minutes Lyndon Campbell was replaced by Kevin Buxton - Lyndon had earlier received a 'yellow card'

Paul McMullen and Andy Hartlebury and the rest of the defence stood firm as Glossop enjoyed a good spell in looking for a further goal.

On 75 minutes there was a scramble in the Glossop goalmouth and the ball was finally bundled over the goal line by Simon Gregory 2-2

The final 15 minutes saw both sides striving for the winning goal:

Glossop had a series of corners and it took a goal line clearance by Matt Ballard to keep us in the game.

Matt received a 'yellow card' in the final minutes of the game.

Then with almost the last kick of the game Jordan Davies sent a great ball across the Glossop goalmouth - it just needed a touch to convert.

Final Score 2-2

The players without exception gave it their all in dreadful conditions and left the field looking as if they had been wallowing in mud.

We now stand in 16th place with 26 points - some 13 points clear of the bottom two teams, with 13 games left this season.

We now have 3 Home games in February giving us an ideal opportunity to consolidate our League position; despite our recent run of bad form a couple of wins would have seen us approaching the top half of the League Table.

MDTFC Team

• Mason Springthorpe (GK)
• Simon Gregory
• Matthew Ballard
• Andy Hartlebury
• Paul McMullen
• Lyndon Campbell (68 Kevin Buxton)
• Ryan Mclean
• Dan Beddows (Capt)
• Harvey Howell
• Glynn Coney
• Charlie Knowles (53 Jordan Davies)

Unused Subs:

• Harri Lovett
• Josh Bradburn
• Owen Skelton