GNE Bag 3 Points!!!!

Glossop arrived at Kendal to be met by a disgruntled section of Mintcakes fans taking part in a protest against the club’s chairman.

“Gudgeon out!” they chanted, from long before kick off, right through the 90 minutes and beyond.

Whether or not this affected the home side in terms of their preparations and mentality, Glossop knew that they couldn’t let anything affect theirs.

This was a six pointer in the truest sense. A potential dog fight with both teams looking to haul themselves further from the foot of the table.

As the game kicked off, a host of Kendal fans appeared outside the ground, watching on from an overlooking graveyard. With relegation looming ever closer for today’s loser, this was perhaps an appropriate perch of a viewing point.

Glossop started like a team possessed, piling pressure on and pinning Kendal back at every opportunity. A good chance slipped away from Dominic Marie but Glossop looked to be just minutes away from scoring.

If ever they needed a good spell in a game, today was the day, and the healthy swathes of travelling Hillmen fans were rewarded with their best ten minutes of the season so far.

Glossop went in front through Matty Russell’s crossed ball from wide right. Jack Tuohy had caused the defenders and keepers to lose their focus on the flight of the ball, and rather embarrassingly for both, it soon found its way over the line. Russell didn’t intend to score, but when you’re down at the bottom, you take everything you can get.

Glossop pushed on from here and they added a second as Jack Tuohy timed his run to perfection, arriving in the box to slot home a ball that had been cut back beautifully from the byline.

Dreamland already, but it was about to get better.

Kane Hickman jinked himself into a yard of space with the ball at his feet, before letting fly with a powerful dipping shot that flew over the keeper and into the back of the net. Surely a contender for Glossop’s goal of the season, but more importantly, this goal secured real daylight between the teams on the scoresheet.

The plan now would be to ensure the three points in order to get some daylight between the teams in the league table.

The rest of the half fizzled out and the referee blew right on the 45 minute mark. Surely Glossop wouldn’t blow it from here.

After the interval, Glossop missed some very good early opportunities to increase the deficit and as Kendal turned the screw, they hoped they wouldn’t live to rue them.

Patches of sloppiness rather than complacency crept in and with the half still young, Kendal pulled one back.

Hillmen fans did well to hide their groans if they had any, and they kept the visiting team going with brilliant support.

Glossop weren’t tested too much late on, but with Dominic Marie’s tireless running up top, they always had an outlet to aim for.

Crucially, Moussa Samassa had a commanding game with new defensive partner Festus Arthur performing equally well, whilst Keenan Quansah worked his socks off in a deeper midfield role today.

A strong performance from Glossop that puts them firmly in charge of their own fate.

There’s a long way to go yet, but if Glossop can bring some of their away form back to Surrey Street, they should be able to concentrate on looking up the ladder, rather than down at the trap door.

Match Report By: Culain Wood
Photo By: Steve Dyson
Video Highlights Courtesy of: Bandit Productions