Silsden 1, Glossop North End 0

This surprise defeat in Yorkshire on Saturday saw Glossop North End’s title credentials take a blow almost as quickly as people had finally noticed that they had those credentials in the first place.

After spending most of the season hovering around 5th place, the Hillmen had largely been under the radar of those talking about the race for the North West Counties crown, but a 4-0 victory over Stone Dominoes the previous Wednesday had lifted them to 3rd and into championship thoughts. This might explain why Silsden raised their game.

What was perplexing was that having won their last two matches after showing great fighting spirit – playing at least half of each game with 10 men following a sending off – that spirit was elusive on Saturday as they struggled to assert themselves.
It might have been different had Sam Hind taken a 3rd minute opportunity when a quick free kick put him clear, but his attempted lob went over the bar. But Silsden were causing headaches for the Glossop back four with their willing runners up front providing outlets for direct balls. McEneaney, Nettleton & Palfrey all had half chances that went the wrong side of the post whilst Jason Gorton cleared a Palfrey shot off the line.

Glossop created too though, and Oakes’ free kick was tipped over the bar by James Mann, whilst the goalkeeper again saved brilliantly from Chetcuti, who swivel shot from six yards, perhaps connecting too well as Mann anticipated the shot by diving full length to his right and pushing the ball around the post.

The goal came in the 36th minute, and again it was a direct ball that allowed Palfrey to get behind the Glossop defence. Whilst they claimed offside, Palfrey slipped the ball past Proctor to give his side the lead.

Chetcuti and Gorton were providing North End’s main threat and the former did well to jink past three players only to shoot weakly at the keeper before the break, although he forced another diving save from Mann into the second half with a shot from the edge of the box that took a firm hand to push wide. Gorton, meanwhile, hit the bar with a header from a throw in.

However as the game went on, Glossop ran out of inspiration, and chances fell more to the home side as Proctor was forced into a number of saves from Palfrey in particular. There were a couple in injury time from the very top drawer, including when the striker shot with fierce pace from 6 yards but Proctor not only saved, but held the shot.

It could not inspire a Glossop reply though, and not for the first time this season, just as it looked as though The Hillmen were mounting a bid to go top, things have gone awry. There is a feeling among supporters that this fine team is just a touch short of what it takes to win the league. They have 11 games left to prove them wrong.