Glossop North End arrived at Leek Town on the back of a spirited comeback at Chasetown just 3 days earlier in which they salvaged a 2-2 draw late on in the game. GNE were looking to build on this momentum but came up, against a well organised Leek Town side that proved to make the evening encounter difficult for the Hillmen.
Managers Pete Band and Lloyd Morrison made two changes to the side that drew at Chasetown on Saturday. Olly Thornley replaced Jamie McLellan in the back 4, with Sam Howell handed his first GNE start in place of Jack Tuohy who had to settle for a place on the bench. Josh Stachini made a return to the bench after being out with injury on Saturday, and Kane Hickman once again occupied a place on the bench.
GNE were slow out the blocks at the start of the first half and the hosts quickly took control of the game and put the Hillmen under pressure early on. Within 12 minutes the hosts had broken the deadlock and were ahead. A perfectly placed ball through from midfield fell to Rob Stevenson on the wide right hand side, Stevenson placed a low first time cross with his right foot into the box for Tim Grice who's shot bundled into the net for Leek's first goal. After another couple of close scares, GNE began to grow into the game and press higher up the pitch, but couldn't create any clear cut chances in the final third.
HT Leek 1-0 Glossop North End
GNE managed to hold their own in the opening stages of the second half, with Mitch Bryant looking lively in the front line for the Hillmen. However just 10 minutes into the second half GNE were to suffer further in the match as Leek Town doubled their advantage. The Hillmen gave the ball away cheaply in midfield which allowed Rob Stevenson to break away down the left hand side and get goal side of Olly Thornley before slotting the ball low into the bottom corner with his right footed shot. GNE will have been frustrated to concede after getting themselves into good positions at times in the early stages of the second half. Leek 2-0 GNE after 55 mins.
Just two minutes later Leek were to pull a similar move down GNE's right hand side and scored a very similar goal to put them 3-0 up. GNE had committed numbers forward before the ball got cleared by Leek who managed to break quickly from inside their own half. Rob Stevenson timed his run perfectly down the left flank to travel with the ball to the edge of the box, before pulling the ball back to pick out Jordan Johnson who had space to take a first time shot and slot the ball low into the goal. GNE conceding two very similar goals within 2 minutes.
Kane Hickman then replaced Sam Howell as the Hillmen looked to make changes in the midfield. GNE then gathered themselves before managing to grab a goal back. A long high ball down the left hand channel fell to Adam Latham who managed to nod the ball forward and into the box before smashing home high into the net to make the score 3-1 on 67 minutes.
Whilst GNE pushed for more goals and a way back into the game they struggled to create any clear chances in a well organised defence from Leek and the temp of the game slowed drastically as the game ran out to a close. No late fairytale comeback for GNE this time.
Full Time: Leek Town 3-1 Glossop North End
GNE will be disappointed with the result in a game in which GNE offered little going forward and struggled to pass the ball well and gain a grasp on the game. Whilst GNE got into some dangerous positions there were very few clear cut chances created by the Hillmen. Conceding the two goals in such quick succession on the second half no doubt changed the game drastically, it was a night that GNE will want to forget about and move on. Next time out the Hillmen face a crucial home fixture with fellow strugglers Kendal Town at Surrey Street.
Report By: Dan Bates
Photo By: Steve Dyson
Video Highlights By: Bandit Productions
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
14. | Droylsden | 38 | 43 |
15. | Newcastle Town | 38 | 40 |
16. | Market Drayton Town | 38 | 40 |
17. | Glossop North End | 38 | 31 |
18. | Clitheroe | 38 | 28 |
19. | Kendal Town | 38 | 19 |
20. | Skelmersdale United | 38 | 13 |