Glossop North End 1-0 Emley

For one of the big fixtures this season, Emley travelled to Derbyshire to face Glossop North End in the FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round. In an end-to-end game that was largely dominated by the visitors, it was the home side that nicked the tie at the death.

For much of the game, it was the plucky Pewits who looked the most likely to progress. However, chances were left wanting in the final third and, ultimately, it was a lapse in concentration from a set piece that denied Emley the tie.

In the first half, Emley were quick on the front foot and looking to play out of the back and dominate the wing to swing the ball into the Gooden-Jagger strike force in the middle. Emley’s man of the match, Donae Lawrence, earned his accolade for stretching his legs up the wing in the attack while remaining firm in the defence to keep the Hillmen at bay. As a group the defence were so solid that it took twenty minutes for Glossop to have a shot on goal.

Glossop eventually grew into the game and had a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions but both were dealt with by Emley’s debutant keeper, Dec Lambton.

At the other end, Emley might have had a penalty after appeals were made for an apparent handball following a brilliant move from Jagger, who would’ve been clean through on goal. However, the referee gave Glossop the benefit of the doubt and allowed play to continue.

Just before half-time, Glossop had one last chance which came from a blistering shot that took Lambton all his might to react and tip over the crossbar. From the resulting corner, Emley cleared the ball for a counter attack which came to nothing.

After the break, just as they did in the first half, Emley were quick out of the starting blocks creating early attacking chances down the wing.

A chance came for Sam Pashley to put the Pewits in the lead as his header was directed towards the goal but, after a bit of ping-pong, the ball came out for Joe Kenny to pick up who was then brought down. The duly awarded free-kick was in a dangerous position and was hit with venom on target but the Glossop number one was onto it at the near post.

Shortly after, a brilliant attacking move came for Emley that, if it were executed to the end, would have been an early contender for the goal of the season. Following a Glossop attack, Metcalfe intercepted the ball to ship it to Kenny in the middle whose intelligent ball through to Jagger left the attacker with only the goalkeeper to beat. Unfortunately, the guilt-edged chance went by and the score line remained level.

Responding to nearly going 0-1 down, Glossop stepped up and enjoyed a purple patch that saw a goal line clearance deny them the lead with less than ten minutes to go.

Five minutes later however, from a dubious free kick, the Hillmen earnt themselves a corner. The ball floated in and was headed into the net by Will Higham to give the hosts the lead and eventually the goal that saw them through.

With a 1-0 lead late on in the game, you’d forgive the hosts for drawing out the game and wasting a bit of time. But Emley weren’t out of it and looked for the gutting equaliser in the seven minutes of added time.

With one final play, the ball was thrown in and controlled by George Doyle who stepped into the 12 yard box to line up a shot only to be brought down by a Glossop defender. A cast iron penalty that was shockingly waved away by the referee who in the same motion blew up for full time. Frustrations were high among the players, bench and travelling support. Doyle made his feelings known which only earnt him a red card.

Overall, it looked like a different team from last week’s game against North Ferriby. The players looked hungry for the win, full of energy and strong on the ball. Given they were against higher opposition, there are plenty of positives to take away from the tie. Arguably, the Pewits feel hard done by some questionable refereeing but, ultimately, you need to capitalise on your chances to win a game.