Day to forget for Widnes as Glossop run wild in Men United Cup tie

as they were defeated 8-0 by Premier Division side Glossop North End at Surrey Street.
It was a much changed Widnes line up, as the away side fielded six changes to the side that were narrowly defeated by Skelmersdale United on Monday Night in the Liverpool Senior Cup. Steve Hill’s side were without important players such as Paul Cliff who was cup-tied, as well as leading goalscorer Ben Tollitt and injured midfielder James Ludgate.
Despite the absentees, Widnes did well welcome back Tom Mitchell who captained the side after six weeks without with a knee injury. Ryan Laughton was also handed a debut at left-back, which saw Paul Carney pushed further up the field.
The Hillmen came into the game off the back of a midweek league defeat away to 1874 Northwich. That game marked the end of an 11-game unbeaten league run for Glossop which is only their second league defeat this season.
Both teams started the game well. Widnes were left unfazed by the daunting task ahead of them, as they passed the ball well to the start the game, with Jay Cooper acting as “the quarterback” for Widnes early. Despite this, Glossop were the first to create a chance. Thomas Bailey was twice denied on the line by blocks from central defenders Matty Lennon and Tom Mitchell.
Goalkeeper David Nevitt, who was returning to the side after missing the tie against Skelmersdale, was on-hand to deny Edward Moran with a good save after getting down well to his near post.
Bailey again threatened minutes later, as he tried his luck with a long-distance effort that wasn’t too far away from testing David Nevitt.
Ultimately though, Widnes’ resistance in-front of goal was eventually broken down when Jason Carey was played through in on goal by Sam Grimshaw with Carey beating Nevitt with a tidy finish that put Glossop ahead.
In the build-up to the goal, Widnes defenders Lennon and Daniel Lomax both received injuries, with the latter picking up an ankle injury whilst Lennon aggravated a hamstring injury that has caused him to miss the last few games.
The two injuries and Widnes’ lack of defensive options on the bench called for a change of system which ultimately affected the away side’s shape and poise in the first half.
This led to Glossop doubling their lead shortly before the hour-mark. Lee Blackshaw received the ball from earlier goalscorer Carey before attempting a shot that was deflected over the head of Nevitt and into the back of the net.
It was a quickfire double for the home side as it was 3-0 minutes later. Jason Carey bagged his second goal of the day as he cut in from the left-hand side before delivering a venomous shot that had enough pace to beat Nevitt to the bottom corner.
It was easy pickings for Glossop in the first half and they very nearly added their fourth on the stroke of halftime.
Halftime provided a sense of respite for the away side and an opportunity for Steve Hill to talk things over with his side bearing in mind that Widnes had recovered from three goals down to defeat St. Helens Town in the 2nd round of this very competition.
Widnes were the first to threaten in the second period through Danny Burns as the first half substitute rifled a shot towards goal that was comfortably gathered by Greg Hall.
Despite this, it was more of the same as Glossop continued to pile pressure on Widnes. Double goalscorer of the first half Jason Carey did incredibly well to skip away from the challenge of Tom Mitchell before he let himself down with the finish, as he blasted it over from just inside the area.
Glossop continued to attack and their pressure didn’t show any signs of relenting as their attacking prowess was rewarded with a fourth goal moments before the hour-mark. Lee Blackshaw, who was Glossop’s main attacking threat on the day, bagged his second goal of the day as he turned a cross from Kelvin Lugsden into the back of the net to all but win the game for the Hillmen.
Widnes’ attacks were rare and when they did come, they failed to test Glossop keeper Greg Hall. Danny Burns fired a cross into the area that very nearly trickled inside the post. However, Hall looked pretty comfortable in letting the ball go.
Sam Hind was next to threaten for the home side, as he did extremely well to turn away from pressure and fire a shot on goal that was palmed away by Nevitt and into the path of Lee Morris who turned the rebound over the bar.
There was a feeling that Glossop’s fifth goal of the game was coming, and it did eventually come 17 minutes from time. Substitute Ben Richardson was on-hand to receive Sam Hind’s cross at the back post which he diverted beyond Nevitt to make it 5-0.
There was less than a minute separating Glossop’s fifth and sixth goals. Blackshaw secured his hat-trick after picking up a loose ball in midfield, before embarking on a miraculous run that ended with him lobbing Nevitt with a great finish in a goal that summed up both team’s outings for different reasons.
It was seven not too long afterwards. It was that man Blackshaw again who made the game well and truly his with a great finish from just inside the area. It was the icing on the cake for the forward, who caused Widnes a hatful of problems in his free-role during the game.
The seventh goal signalled that Widnes needed to go into damage control and hold on during the last ten minutes. Despite that, Glossop continued to pile on the pressure and it took David Nevitt to deny Glossop their eighth, as he pulled off a terrific save to deny Hind.
Keeper Nevitt’s best efforts to prevent Glossop at bay, they eventually added their eighth shortly before the end of normal time. Lee Morris saw his initial shot denied by a block from Gary Williams before slotting his rebound past Nevitt to round off an afternoon that all concerned with Widnes will want to quickly forget.
Steve Hill was disappointed with his side’s performance. “It was a disappointing performance. I thought they were very good. We were missing personnel but we have still got to put a performance as sometimes it was a little bit easy for them and whether that is down to their ability or not. Today shows how good of a job is needed for us to get to the level that they’re at.”
Widnes host Hanley Town in their return to league action next weekend. Hill thinks that the game is a perfect opportunity to bounce back. “It’s a home fixture. We’re looking to get three points but it won’t be easy, because they’re a tough side to beat, like every other side in the division. We’ve got to look forward and hopefully the players can pick themselves up as we go again.”
Match Report by Callum Chadwick