The Non-League Reds bounced back from their Boxing Day defeat at Burscough to take all 3 points at home against Glossop North End, just two days later. The post-Christmas games started with disappointment in foggy conditions, as a solitary strike from Cian Spencer-McDermott in the 39th minute, was enough to give Burscough a narrow 1-0 victory. It wasn’t the best of games, with few chances and it left AFC really needing to pick up a win against Glossop to finish 2024 off on a high.
The visitors started well and had good spells of possession, without creating any clear cut chances. Both of their wide players looked dangerous, together with Djalo and Lawless, as AFC struggled to get a foothold in the game. Other than a few half chances that went wide and corners that were dealt with well by Parkinson in goal, AFC’s defence looked quite solid. Despite the more positive start from Glossop, it was AFC who took the lead on 16 minutes, following a good save from a Caleb Jones effort, the resulting corner was only half cleared and when the ball was crossed back in left footed by Caleb Jones, it was Adam Sudworth who managed to head back across goal for an unmarked Louie Lancaster to finish and give the home side the lead.
The goal didn’t deter the visitors as they maintained the upper hand from a possession point of view. On 22 minutes a Pennington effort was cleared off the line superbly well by Sudworth. However, the visitors equalized on 26 minutes when Worsley got on the end of a through ball to loft it over the keeper. Glossop kept on the front foot and looked threatening but then Caleb Jones hit a free-kick just over the bar, with the keeper stranded. Five minutes before half-time, it was proper Pantomime season as Dave Parkinson threw the ball to the floor to hit it long, not knowing that a Glossop striker was lurking behind him – you can probably guess the shouts that came from everyone in the main stand!! Moorcroft then went close for AFC, forcing the keeper to save and then Elliot Taylor was denied by a great last ditch tackle by Pennington. It was Pennington who almost scored from a corner in the closing moments of the half and Parkinson then had to make a fine save from another Glossop effort, to ensure the scores stayed level at the break.
The 2nd half started with chances at both ends. Firstly, Tom Lawless was denied by a point blank save from Dave Parkinson and then a minute later down the other end, Caleb Jones just couldn’t get the ball out of his feet as he pounced on a mistake by the keeper. In the 56th minute, a through ball forced the Glossop keeper to come out and clear from just outside his area but it was a poor one that struck his own defender and fell to the feet of Adam Moorcroft. The AFC skipper, who was having a fine game in midfield, reacted quickly and hit the ball into the unguarded net from just outside the box. From this point on, it was the home side that dominated proceedings as they worked hard to press their opponents and force errors. Caleb Jones had a fantastic effort brilliantly saved, as AFC tried to press home their advantage. In the 80th minute, substitute Reece Williams went close following some fine attacking play.
On 62 minutes the Glossop keeper punched a Caleb Jones free-kick out of the area but it fell to Dan Mahaffy some 35 yards out. He ran towards the penalty box before unleashing a curling shot that flew in off the underside of the crossbar. Glossop tried to find a way back into the game but created little from this point, despite some good approach play. Nathan Giblin then had a great chance to add another but the keeper saved well and Sudworth went close with a header from the resulting corner. Aaron Cummins almost curled an effort in three minutes from normal time, but his effort hit the side netting. However, the icing was put on the cake in the first minute of added time, when Cummins won possession back and played in Joel Skillen. Joel composed himself before deftly chipping the ball over the keeper to make it 4-1 and confirm the win for AFC.
So, it was 3 points and 3 players getting on the scoresheet for the first time in an AFC shirt, gained by a combination of solid defensive work, midfield graft and clinical finishing. All in all, it was a great way to end 2024.
The first game of the New Year for The Non-League Reds is at 3pm on Saturday 4th January, at home to Padiham. Everyone at AFC Liverpool would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support during 2024 and wish you the best of everything for the New Year.
FINAL SCORE – AFC Liverpool 4 v 1 Glossop North End
LINE-UP - 1. Parkinson 2. Wright-Ocana 3. Fisher-Jones 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Sudworth 6. Brown 7. Jones 8. Mahaffy 9. Taylor 10. Giblin 11. Lancaster
Subs Used – Rooney, Skillen, Williams, Cummins
(Pics courtesy of Paul Moran & Billy Stirrup)
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