Blues take advantage and net eighth win in last nine games!

Leek Town ....................... 2 Glossop North End ......... 1

LEEK Town’s new 3G pitch enabled them to take advantage of their rivals’ inactivity with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Glossop North End at Harrison Park.

Glossop shocked their hosts by taking an 18th-minute lead. A long throw from Bevan Burey was flicked on by Sam Barratt and Jamie Ranford slammed it past Danny Roberts.

The Blues fought back but had to wait until the 62nd minute to draw level. Dan Trickett-smith hit a low shot that went through ‘keeper Harry Allen’s legs for his 15th goal of the season.

Leek poured forward in search of a winner which duly arrived in the 78th minute courtesy of a tried and trusted route. A cross came over from the right and the evergreen Tim Grice knocked the ball home from close range for his 19th goal of the season and his seventh in the last seven games.

The result leaves Leek in fourth place after a run of eight wins in nine games, but more importantly closes the gap to leaders Workington to six points – and they are due to visit Harrison Park in just under three weeks’ time for what could be a defining clash.

Leek were boosted by the return of both Dan Trickettsmith and Rob Stevenson for the game.

Trickett-smith came straight back into the starting eleven to replace the injured Joel Tabiner, whilst Stevenson was named among the substitutes.

In blustery but dry conditions the first half was a very scrappy affair with the defences of both sides clearly on top and chances were few and far between.

The Blues were certainly below par and could not find their slick passing game in the face of a high press from a resolute Glossop side that were working extremely hard off the ball.

A Leek player would often find himself surrounded by two or three Glossop players who were clearly up for the contest, and it was the Hillmen who took the lead in the 18th minute.

From a long throw in from the right the Leek defence failed to deal with the flick on and Jamie Rainford was able to apply a simple side foot finish past Danny Roberts.

The goal gave Glossop something to hang onto and they upped their work rate to prevent the Blues from responding to going behind with passes continuing to be misplaced, much to the frustration of the home supporters.

There was a brief spark of life on 35 minute when a Billy Reeves through ball finally found Will Saxon, whose shot was well blocked, and then Reeves again got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Tim Grice, but the centre forward’s first-time effort flew over the bar. Maybe it was a ‘sighter’ for what was to come later!

Olly Harrison had a good header from a corner blocked a yard out minutes later but Glossop were using the counter attack well and also threatened with a couple of efforts from Drew Lowe and Jordan Scott.

Leek’s first half performance was summed up on the stroke of half time when Ross Davison’s square pass was straight to the feet of Rainford and the Blues were fortunate to escape by a couple of good blocks as the Hillmen failed to capitalise on the midfielder’s mistake.

Despite, no doubt, a few words being said at half time the start of the second half was no better from a Blues perspective and, after 58 minutes, manager Neil Baker had seen enough and made his first substitution of the game.

It was an attacking one with Rob Stevenson replacing Jesse Bavanganga and a change in the formation to 4-3-3.

The substitution was immediately countered by Glossop manager Stuart Mellish and it looked as though the Hillmen would continue to frustrate the Blues efforts until a howler from goalkeeper Harry Allen in the 62nd minute allowed Leek back into the game.

It looked as if Allen would easily gather Trickett-smith’s speculative long-range effort but he allowed the ball to slip through both his hands and between his legs and it trickled over the line to bring the home side level.

With more than an air of relief the home crowd now sensed blood and urged the Blues on and capitalise on their good fortune.

However, the expected onslaught did not really materialise and the Hillmen had recovered their composure to return to their game plan of absorbing any Leek attacks whilst trying to get something on the counter.

On 76 minutes Baker made his second substitution, withdrawing the tiring Trickett-smith and sending on Ammar Dyer, who immediately injected some extra pace and energy into the Leek attack, and two minutes later the hosts edged ahead. Saxon and Grice had been well marshalled by the Glossop defence for most of the afternoon but the two strikers finally combined for the decisive goal.

An attack down the Leek right found Saxon one on one with the fullback and he was able to deliver a low ball into the area that found Grice in a similar position to his first half effort.

But this time the striker made no mistake rifling home beyond Allen to put the Blues 2-1 up.

Leek strived to get the cushion of a two-goal lead but failed to do so as an effort from Saxon, after good work by Dyer, was well saved by Allen, pushing the ball round the post for a corner.

And this made for a very nerve-wracking last 10 minutes of the game for the Blues faithful as Glossop looked for an equaliser.

Leek were guilty of conceding a number of silly free kicks that allowed the Hillmen to deliver the ball into the box.

There was a half chance for Bevan Burey but he blazed over when a number of his team-mates were well placed and Louis White also tried from long range but his effort was easily gathered by Roberts.

In a last throw of the dice on 92 minutes, Glossop goalkeeper Allen came up for yet another free kick, perhaps hoping to redeem his earlier mistake.

But the delivery was again well dealt with by Leek and the ball broke to Dyer to surge down the right touch line towards the unguarded Glossop goal, with Allen scrambling back.

Instead of trying to find the empty net Dyer sensibly took the ball into the corner and won a corner off a defender’s legs to eat up the remaining injury time and allow the Blues to close out a narrow victory.

Leek Town travel to Prescot Cables on Saturday, which looks to be another tough game.

BLUES: Roberts, Bavanganga (Stevenson 58), Keenan, Davidson, Harrison, Ryder, Wara, Reeves, Grice, Trickett-smith (Dyer 77), Saxon (Lake 87). Subs not used: Booth, Glover ATTENDANCE: 422