Glossop held to Staffordshire stalemate

BetVictor South East Division: Kidsgrove Athletic 0-0 Glossop North End

Glossop North End were held to a second successive draw after a goalless encounter at Kidsgrove Athletic on Saturday.

It was an entertaining clash, played in front of 135 fans at the Autonet Insurance Stadium, between two teams who remain 13th and 14th respectively in the South East Division. 

The Hillmen, who had drawn 1-1 at home to Loughborough Dynamo in midweek, made some good early running but the hosts, who had won their previous four matches, had the first real chance of the game. 

After captain Anthony Malbon saw a shot deflect behind for a corner, James Butler struck the crossbar with a header in the 13th minute. 

Glossop keeper Dale Latham was then forced into action to tip over Kyle Diskin's cross before Butler had another headed opportunity which went over the crossbar. 

The Hillmen's August Player of the Month, Jack Tuohy, almost made the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark but was denied by a fine block from Kidsgrove defender Sam Hall. 

Chances continued to come for Glossop, who were sporting their new away kit for the first time this season, as Tuohy was thwarted by another defensive intervention, this time by Richard Duffy, before another home defender Alex Morris was forced to clear a corner off the line. 

The second half carried on in the same vein, with opportunities arising at both ends. Butler - who was an aerial threat throughout - headed over again from a Rhys Thompson delivery for the hosts before Glossop defender Bakari Coulibaly forced a smart save from Kidsgrove keeper Kieran Harrison. Tuohy then smashed a shot over the crossbar after the resulting corner was recycled. 

Glossop sent on Szymon Czubik and Jordan Fitton for the final 20 minutes, in place of Henry Limpishi and Braulio Maeico, to inject some fresh legs and almost went in front on 76 minutes but found Harrison in the way again. 

At the other end, Ruben Wiggins-Thomas glanced a header narrowly wide from a free-kick and Malbon fired a shot straight at Latham when presented with space inside the box. 

Harrison was forced into another save in the 89th minute as the Hillmen looked to find a late winner, but in the end it was honours even as both teams cancelled each other out in the Staffordshire sunshine. 

Glossop's joint-manager Pete Band was pleased with the team's efforts, but felt his side could have grabbed a goal to take all three points. 

"It was a solid performance," he told GNE TV after the game. "We could have nicked it at the end. They only had one real chance in the game which fell to their dangerman. He tried to give Dale [Latham] the eyes but luckily Dale saved it. 

"It's a tough place to come - they play some good football. We had enough corners and set-pieces today to probably nick it, but we came up against a keeper who pulled off a worldie [of a save] from a deflection. 

"It's six points from six [league games] now - we're building every week. I thought both teams battled well - it was an even game. Given the weather, both teams were tiring and we could have nicked it. It was a solid performance." 

Main image: Steve Dyson