Shootout heartbreak for Hillmen

Glossop North End were denied cup glory in the cruelest way, a defeat on penalties after a brave and high class display, against opposition from two tiers above them.

An Ethan Sutcliffe equaliser, on 77 minutes sent the game to penalties after his earlier strike, just before the interval, had given the Hillmen a deserved half time lead. Ilkeston found two goals in the opening ten minutes of the second half to surge into the lead and turn the tide on the Hillmen but that was their only real spell of pressure in the game and Sutcliffe’s equaliser ensured the Hillmen took the game to spot kicks, sadly falling to a 3-1 defeat.

As they have for the majority of the season Glossop started the game brightly gaining control of the midfield. Purfield marshalling the defence from the base of the quartet, Bowker and Mooney-Munoz working tirelessly linking the midfield together and Abdul Djalo, majestically supplying his forwards and providing the spark to GNE’s best attacking moves. Sutcliffe and Etia were paired together, both strikers pacy and energetic, a threat from the start. Etia and Djalo combined to provide a chance for Sutcliffe, who headed wide on six minutes as the Hillmen settled quickly into the Game. Glossop’s fullbacks began to venture forward, Bardsley down the left on 12 set up Bowker for a shot which was blocked. On 20 Djalo won possession high and instantly fed a through ball to Sutcliffe. The team’s top scorer held the ball, laid it off to Etia whose shot, arrowed towards the bottom corner, was tipped round the post for a corner.

Glossop built the pressure as the half continued, dominating their opponents, who, to their credit, showed their experience by staying in the game. Etia was denied a couple more times, a shot blocked on 23 and 3 minutes later he worked the Ilkeston keeper again, who was able to smother his shot behind after closing down the angle.

Glossop fans were wondering whether their side could turn their dominance into a deserved first half advantage, the answer, on 41 minutes was an emphatic yes. Bardsley was fouled half way into the Ilkeston half, out on the left touchline. Djalo’s delivery into the box was excellent, Sutcliffe’s movement from the far post to the near got him in front of his marker and his glancing header flew into the top corner. The goal was greeted with cheers of delight from the 500+ GNE fans in attendance, who sang and cheered their team through the game.

A deserved lead at half time, indeed, given the quality of their football and the volume of chances created it could have been more emphatic.

As the second half got underway Ilkeston were looking for a spark to ignite their lacklustre performance, and they got it, courtesy of Matt Thornhill on 49 minutes. An attack down the right, a ball inside and from 30 yards, a wonderful strike, drilled between the two Glossop central defenders and into the top corner, a strike well worthy of a final. Galvanised by the quality of their leveller and with their fans in full voice the step three side applied the pressure. Within minutes of drawing level a driven corner from the right was headed behind by Igwenwanne for another corner on the opposite side. The in-swinging delivery from Thornhill was of high quality, and Sam Parker was able to bundle the ball over the line from inside the six yard box, through the group of bodies, to nudge Ilkeston into the lead, despite the protests from GNE, appealing for a foul on their keeper, Oldham.

Ilkeston seemed to have taken control of the game, Glossop trying to reassert themselves and grow into the second half. Changes came from Wilshaw, in an attempt to reinvigorate his side and with 20 minutes to go the Hillmen had gotten a foothold back in the game as they pressed for an equaliser. Great work down the right, with several players combining, allowed Djalo to look up and play the ball inside to find the movement of Mooney-Munoz in space and his left footed strike was blocked by a defender with his body on the line. More changes and the fans right behind their team as they pressed forward. Mooney-Munoz fouled thirty six yards out, just left of centre and a chance for GNE to get players into the box. Substitute Conal Gallagher took it, perfectly weighted into the area, great movement again from Sutcliffe who rose well and headed it over the keeper, who had come to claim, and the Hillmen were level with 13 minutes to go.

Wilshaw emptied his bench and in the final stages GNE looked the most likely to win it in normal time, Junior Smith powered his way into the box but he was crowded out by defenders who blocked his shot.

Full time and penalties, with GNE looking for a repeat of the success they had in the quarter final against local rivals New Mills. The shootout started well, Schofield converting their first, remaining perfect from the spot through the season, and Joey Oldham getting down well to save the opening spot kick from Ilkeston. The advantage was soon gone though with a miss from Smith and saves of the penalties from Igwenwanne and Gallagher, with Ilkeston converting their corresponding spot kicks. This meant a successful conversion of Ilkeston’s fourth would end the contest and Jamie Walker’s excellent penalty, emphatically converted, sealed victory.

A performance to be proud of at the end of a season which looked to have fizzled out before half way, but that ends on a high, with the belief that the group can push forward next season and challenge for promotion.