24^th March 2014, Glossop North End v Runcorn Linnets FC : 1-1

The Derbyshire town of Glossop played host to the biggest game of the NWCL season so far in front of 445 spectators, as Glossop North End welcomed Linnets to their Surrey Street ground for a match that was broadcast live on local radio.

Those of you who frequent Sheffield and the like will know Glossop as the little town with hellish traffic at the start of the Snake Pass. Glossop are one of what I would call the "traditional" clubs in our league. They visited Wembley as recently as 2009 in the FA Vase final and like ourselves they have a good support base (averaging 220-240 at home games, along with a healthy away following). Surrey Street is right on top of a hill next to a big Tesco, and because of this, is open to high and cold winds. The ground is very well-appointed with a neat little seating area behind the dugouts and cover behind the turnstile end goal and all the way down the side of the pitch. Definitely one of the better grounds in the league.

This was a huge game for both sides. Glossop are on a long 18-game unbeaten run which has dragged them into the title race, and Linnets were looking to increase their margin at the top of the NWCL table.

Linnets had one change from the team that produced arguably the performance of the season two days earlier in the mud at Colne, the injured Michael Ellison being replaced by Adam Wade. Anthony Hickey was serving the last of his two-game suspension. Linnets started the game kicking towards the clubhouse end and playing at a very high tempo. Glossop were struggling with the pace of Linnets attack and speed in which Runcorn were closing down when Glossop were on the ball.

The first real chance of the game fell to Linnets when a mix-up between Glossop centre half Lincoln Adams and extrovert former Maine Road goalkeeper Greg Hall let Kev Towey in. Unable to get a good angle to shoot, Towey played the ball out to Houghton, who couldn't keep his shot under the bar.

The next chance led to the opening goal. A Glossop corner was claimed by Andy Robertson and his huge kick set Towey in down the left hand side. "Super Kev" switched the ball across the area to the unmarked Matty Atherton and he in turn drilled a low cross into the path of Kyle Hamid, whose bundled shot looped over Hall and into the net - sending the mass hoards of Linnets fans into raptures. The goal did seem to wake Glossop up but Linnets back line easily swallowed up everything that was thrown at them. It was evident quite early on that Glossop's biggest threat was from set pieces; they threw everything into free-kicks and corners and did look dangerous in these situations.

Less than 10 minutes after taking the lead, Linnets were dragged back level and even three days later nobody can explain to me why. A Glossop attack broke down and the ball looped up high in the air. All eyes were on the ball and when it returned to mother earth the referee was pointing to the penalty spot. There was no appeal from any Glossop players or supporters, and nobody I spoke to on the night can tell me what the penalty was for. A melee ensued and when it calmed down, two Glossop players were lying face down in the penalty area. The ref went for a conflab with the linesman and after a long discussion issued a straight red card to the baffled Martin Crowder. A whole five minutes after the original offence, the penalty was taken but Andy Robertson flew to his left to save at full stretch and tip round the post to the delight of all things yellow and green. It was a tremendous save.

Sadly the joy lasted less than 20 seconds as the usually staunch Linnets defence, perhaps distracted by the whole situation, allowed the dangerous Lincoln Adams to nip in at the near post and head Glossop level. Robertson did really well to get down low and keep the ball out but the linesman ruled that the ball had crossed the line.

Linnets were understandably rattled now and Glossop threw everything at it to get a second goal before half-time, piling the pressure on from corners and free-kicks. Luckily, the patched-up Linnets defence held firm and the scores remained 1-1 as the half-time whistle blew.

Joey Dunn made the decision to keep with the same 10 that had finished the first half, moving Matty Atherton to left back and playing with two upfront. What ensued was a master class in how to play with 10 men in such a crucial game.

Glossop had the better of the first 25 minutes of the second half but never actually got a shot in on goal in that time. Two of their attempts came close, Adams flicking on an in-swinging free-kick just wide of the post before Glossop's best chance to win the game went begging - Ben Richardson heading wide unchallenged from eight yards out from another dangerous free-kick.

That was Glossop's last chance of the game. The unusually quiet Mark Houghton was replaced with Chris Lomax who had in immediate impact on the game, getting the ball down and running at the Glossop back line. Linnets ended the game strongly, belying the one man disadvantage. Towey couldn't capitalise on another mix-up between Adams and Hall, the ball running out for a goal kick. Lomax turned Adams and headed to the by-line before being bundled to the ground by the big Glossop defender. This happened at the feet of the linesman but nothing was given.

A massive moment in the game came in injury time when Towey had the ball on the right side of the Glossop penalty area. With the full back six yards away from Kev, trying to block out any crosses, Towey did get a cross away that smacked the arm of the Glossop full back and the ball dropped to the ground like a lead balloon. The cries of "penalty" rang out all around the ground but the ref and linesman remained unmoved. The last effort of the game was a high swirling free-kick played in by Mike Simpson that Hall did well to catch under pressure.

The final whistle blew to bring this enthralling battle to an end. In the circumstances it has to be looked at as a better point for Linnets than Glossop. Glossop might have expected to dominate in the second half and get a goal or two, but Robertson didn't have a save to make. Linnets never threatened the Glossop goal in the second half either as the game turned into a midfield and defensive battle.

On the way out, we spoke to quite a few Glossop fans, who were very complimentary about our team and agreed that they probably would have lost if it had stayed 11 v 11. I will return the compliments now by saying that I can see why Glossop are in the position they are in. They are uncompromising at times but very hard to beat and strong all over the park.

Unfortunately, the real winners on the night were Norton, who went on to steal victory with another late victory against Colne the following night to put themselves well and truly in pole position in the title race.

With football being the game that it is, Norton are likely to drop points so the main thing is that we are there to pounce when they do. And Norton also make the difficult trip to Surrey Street themselves on the final day of the season, so it could well go all the way!

Runcorn Linnets:Robertson, Crowder, Simpson, Duffy, Burke, Cross, Wade, Hamid, Houghton, Atherton, Towey. Subs Used - Lomax. Not used: Salmon, Fielding, Thompson.

NB. The views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Runcorn Linnets FC or its Board.