GNE 1 - 3 Buxton

Glossop received some familiar faces along with the rest of the Buxton crowd today, as their former managers returned looking to cast a bit of misery over the Hillmen's final preseason fixture. They succeeded in doing just that.

Buxton started much the brighter as they looked to create down the right hand side. For the most part, Glossop defended against their advances fairly well and dealt with long throws and balls chipped in behind their full back. The versatile Matty Russell was much less busy over at right full back and Buxton seemed to favour keeping their attacking play away from Glossop's captain.

The best chance that Glossop had early doors was from a direct free kick. Rather than use the opportunity for a shot on goal, Glossop chose to try and work a training ground free kick. Not the best in either design or implementation, it has to be said.

On 20 minutes there was a short delay for a Buxton head injury, which gave Mark Canning an opportunity to put some messages across to his side. Given what he had seen so far, he can't have been best pleased.

Soon after this, Russel Saunders was called into action, as yet another Buxton attack down the right caused Glossop real problems. The attacker cut back in onto his left foot and fired a powerful shot across goal which Saunders saved impressively diving away to his right.

A second more comfortable save followed from Saunders, again a product of work down Buxton's right side, but he would soon be picking the ball out of his net.

A deadly combination of confusion and sloppiness in Glossop's defence allowed Buxton a free hit at goal. Slotting the strike into the bottom left of the goal, Taylor made no mistake and broke the deadlock. 1 - 0 to Buxton.

It wouldn't be long before the lead was doubled. Again, Saunders was helpless as he watched the Buxton captain's volley deflect off a defender and find its way into the back of the net. 2 - 0 and Glossop looked in danger of a first half capitulation.

The game was very nearly put beyond the hosts before half time as they were forced to clear a header off the line, though they did manage to make their own opportunity to score just before the referee blew for the interval, a trialist heading over from close range.

Half time. Not the best half Glossop have put in over their pre season by a long shot.

Things could only get better going into the second 45 and whilst Glossop did show some early potential, Buxton very nearly made it 3 as their striker rounded Russ Saunders and was only denied by the sheer number of Glossop defenders who had rushed back on the cover.

The Hillmen then survived a very rocky period indeed. Andy Bishop had seen less of the ball than he will have done for a very long time and things just weren't ticking for the hosts. A travelling fan described Glossop's approach as 'a bit Sunday leagueish' and it's hard to disagree.

First Glossop got away with a decent penalty shout for handball and then they had to look on hopelessly as a well worked Buxton throw in was flicked on and then nodded against Saunders' post.

Glossop were comfortably second best, but Daz Mason, arguably Glossop's stand out performer of pre season wanted to change that. He turned on a six pence and drew a foul in a dangerous position. As the Buxton keeper spilled the shot, Daz Mason used his poacher's instincts and brought Glossop back into the game against the run of play.

Any hopes of a revival were short lived as it took no time at all for Buxton to reestablish their dominance.

Tempers flared at times, though it was little more than handbags, and the substitutions of Mason and Russell, possibly signalled that Mark Canning wasn't going to go all out for the equaliser. Mason was becoming riled for sure but he is without question Glossop's best goal threat.

Shortly after the changes Buxton would kill the tie. A ball through the middle was controlled well and finished with composure by substitute Callum Chippendale.

Buxton's Grayson was carded for something in the celebration and Glossop finally started to let Buxton know they were there in the tackle, but it was signs of fight that were much too late to matter.

Before full time, Glossop wasted a free kick and Buxton were denied a stone wall penalty. 3 - 1 to the visitors it finished and Glossop need to pull themselves together and work out their best 11 in time for the big kick off next week.

Old faces returning to claim a win can leave a bitter taste. It's time for Glossop to respond and show that their current leaders have far more to offer than their previous ones.

Report By Culain Wood
Photo By Steve Dyson