Hillmen exit the FA Cup

Glossop North End’s Emirates FA Cup journey came to an end in the Preliminary Round on Saturday, following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Didsbury & Chorlton.

Lee Rick captained the Hillmen side for the afternoon, a side in which Charlie Gladwin kept his place in goal following an extended stint out of the side for Max Povey. There was a familiar look to the back line from the side that came off a 4-2 win at Stockport Town in midweek, with James Badrock & Jack Hopkins at centre half, with Aeron Bardsley & Dylan McMahon staying in the side at wing back positions. Yacin Amarzou came back into the starting XI following a substitute appearance in midweek.

Following the first 5 minutes of the game, the average spectator could’ve been forgiven for thinking that it was going to be a slow burner, with limited early exchanges in the opening minutes, until an innocent free kick from the middle of the park gave GNE the lead in just the 6th minute. Lee Rick took the set piece, a long lofted free kick into the box, the ball met the head of James Badrock who knocked it down for Lewis Reilly to hit home and give the hosts the lead early on in the cup tie.

The visitors eventually started to get into a stride but lacked the end product in some early moves. GNE showed some creditable game management and soaked up the pressure from the visitors in the form of corners and set pieces. GNE’s best chance it seemed as the half went on was on the counter attack. The half time whistle went with the score 1-0 to GNE.

It was a cagey start to the second half just like the first but it was the start of a half in which the visitors were in the ascendancy. An early second half change saw midfielder Gabriel Hughes introduced in place of Conal Gallagher. The visitors would level the game just 2 minutes before the hour mark. Victor Abadaki, who’s pace had started to cause problems prior to the interval, got on the end of a through ball over the top and hit home to level the game for West Didsbury & Chorlton. In a half that West Didsbury goalkeeper Ollie Martin had little to do, the sides could still not be separated heading into the last 10 minutes. However, the winning goal came 4 minutes from time from a familiar source, a great solo effort from Victor Abadaki. A ball originated down the right hand flank which Abadaki got onto the end of, turn inside on his left foot and hit a good strike into the net to win the game for the visitors. The Hillmen will be disappointed to let the game go so late in the day.