Glossop North End 1 Silsden 1

In 1899 Glossop North End were playing in the Football League First Division. They were bankrolled by cotton magnate Sir Samuel Hill-Wood. Hill-Wood moved on to become Chairman of Woolwich Arsenal, the forerunners of the present Arsenal dynasty.

The Arsenal play at the state-of-the-art Emirates Stadium on a superb surface before 60,000 comfortably seated spectators. Glossop play at Surrey Street surrounded by dark mills, rows of terraced houses on a ground which has seen better days.

North End did well to get the pitch playable last Saturday, the heavy frost causing the postponement of matches nearby at Stalybridge Celtic and even those further afield.

Silsden's match itself provided several talking points but it was as far removed from a game at the Emirates as you could get. The nearest link with the Arsenal would have been in the pre-Arsene Wenger days when the centre backs were the key to success.

James Nettleton and Shaun Airey for the Cobbydalers and Kelvin Lugsden and Danny Yates for North End gave little away. Keeper's Martin Foulger and Steffan Fielding had little to do, such was the dominance of the defences.

The first half did feature a shot from Andy Holden which was charged down and an effort from Danny McNulty that ended up in the keeper's midriff.

Rick Bailey did get past Nettleton on one occasion only to shoot wide. Bailey should have opened the scoring in the 35th minute.

Foulger took a short free-kick but his defence weren't aware of this and the skilful Lugsden won the ball but Foulger's sharp reactions denied him. The ball fell to the unmarked Bailey who shot wide of the open goal.

Airey made two timely tackles to deny Glossop further opportunities and Young, powering in from right back, shot over the bar.

The half was coming to an end when the ball was moved to Acton on the left. With Michael Rhodes stranded Airey was pulled out of the centre. A shimmy by the winger created enough space and Darren Hamilton was able to slide the low cross in at the near post.

An eye injury to Mark Bentham early in the half put more pressure on Andy King as Glossop pushed forward.

Tim Hird replaced Bentham and like Airey was tigerish in the tackle.

The Cobbydalers strikers, Lee Reilly and Graham Holmes, battled hard but for little reward until the former cut in from the left only to be impeded by Yates.

The referee awarded a penalty and Rhodes coolly dispatched the spot-kick.

Young shot over the bar following another penetrative run and Foulger held Lugsden's tame volley.

Danny Moriarty and Tom Applebee came on and the latter crossed from the right to create a half chance. Moriarty got in a header at the far post but it sailed comfortably into the keeper's hands.

A number of late challenges were penalised and Young was dismissed. Glossop tried desperately to notch the winner but the Cobbydalers held firm.

This Saturday the Cobbydalers host Atherton Collieries, and then travel to third place Trafford on Tuesday.