Saturday was a special game for both Manager, Phil Stafford and Assistant Manager, James McShane, as they celebrated their 100th official game in charge at The Non-League Reds. The players ensured that it would be a day to remember, as they ran out convincing 5-2 winners away at Glossop North End.
The game started very open, with both sides moving the ball forward positively and it became clear that there was likely to be goals in this one. On 2 minutes, the home side created a half chance for Mialkowski after good work from left winger Keaton Mulvey, but Parkinson reacted sharply to cut out the threat. Less than a minute later Caleb Jones got to a headed backpass before the keeper but his lobbed effort came back off the crossbar. Mulvey forced a good save from Parkinson after 6 minutes, as he started to become an increasing threat for Glossop. Mulvey thought he had scored on 10 minutes, when his cross shot found the far corner of the net. However, he was denied by the linesman's flag that had been raised against a Glossop attacker in the area. The home side weren't to be denied though and when Djalo was brought down in the box, Lewis Reilly scored from the spot to give his side a 1-0 lead on 17 minutes.
The Non-League Reds responded well and started to push forward more. Elliot Taylor was brought down in a central position, 25 yards from goal. Caleb Jones took his time, stepped up and rifled the ball into the back of the net to level the scores on 21mins. Just 3 minutes later and AFC had turned the game around, when Taylor was played in by Jones and unselfishly played the ball across to Liam Paton to knock it into the unguarded net. AFC almost extended their lead on 35 minutes when Taylor hit a fantastic shot from the left edge of the penalty area, only to see it crash against the bar. On the stroke of half-time, Paton tested the keeper from just outside the box but the score remained the same at the break.
AFC started the 2nd half as they had finished the 1st and Tom Beckett was denied five minutes after the restart, when his header was superbly tipped over by Alex Brown in the Glossop goal. Brown then denied Liam Paton a minute later, as AFC grew stronger and continued pressing forward in numbers. In the 54th minute, Dan Mahaffy played a great pass to Liam Paton from just outside his own area, Paton ran forward with the ball and played it through to Mahaffy who had somehow managed to get himself forward to receive the pass, he controlled the pass well and slotted it coolly past the keeper.
Cameron Rooney replaced Mahaffy on 61 minutes and 6 minutes later he got a 4th for AFC following a good exchange of passes between Paton and Beckett, with the latter picking out Rooney who slotted home. The high energy pressing from AFC was causing the home side no end of problems, as they broke forward at will. To their credit though, Glossop pulled one back on 70 minutes, when the hardworking Djalo reacted quickest in the area to rifle the ball home. Almost immediately Elliot Taylor was denied by another good save from Brown and Adam Moorcroft went close with a header from the resulting corner. The points were secured on 76 minutes when Moorcroft played Caleb Jones through and his effort was deflected into the net off a Glossop defender; Caleb making sure he claimed his 18th goal of the season. Parkinson made a brave save on 80 minutes as the home side looked to get back involved. AFC managed the remainder of the game well and with the clock running down, it was a special moment for Assistant Manager, James McShane, who came on for his first appearance for AFC (having scored many times against us in the distant past). A great performance on the road from front to back, with everyone in the matchday squad playing their part in a great win.
This coming weekend The Non-League Reds play at home against Barnoldswick Town. Please note that the game is on FRIDAY evening with an 8pm kick-off. Please get down to The Marine Travel Arena to get behind the lads, for what is sure to be a good game.
FINAL SCORE - Glossop North End 2 v 5 AFC Liverpool
LINE UP - 1. Parkinson 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Giblin 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Brown 6. Fisher-Jones 7. Jones 8. Mahaffy 9. Taylor 10. Beckett 11. Paton
Subs Used - Rooney, Williams, Murphy, McShane
(Photos courtesy of Dave Williams)
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