Match Report: Glossop 0-2 Colls

Atherton Colls recorded a long-overdue first win of pre-season, comfortably dispatching Northern Premier League counterparts Glossop North End in their penultimate warm-up fixture, with goals from Elliot Rokka and Liam Martin. Looking to bounce back from a dramatic 3-2 defeat to City of Liverpool last week, Brad Cooke’s men made the journey from Greater Manchester into the peaks and to the snappily-titled AMDEC Forklift Stadium. Glossop are a familiar foe, the two sides’ knowing each other well from their days competing together in the North West Counties. Colls were lightning-fast out of the blocks and took an early lead through Elliot Rokka - catching the Glossop defence, several of the travelling fans and videoman off-guard. Dylan Glass headed the ball into the path of the midfielder, who was able to control and poke past the onrushing keeper, making it advantage Colls within sixty seconds. The black-and-whites went on to dominate the first half and could have extended their lead on a handful of occasions. A crafty nutmeg by Ben Conway on 7 minutes saw him wriggle free in the box before curling his shot over the bar. On 25 minutes, a smart save from the Glossop keeper was the only thing denying Dylan Glass from point-blank range. Closest to doubling the lead was Elliot Rokka on 37 minutes, his well-struck free kick from 25 yards evading the wall and the keeper but striking the upright. Colls had the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later, Scott Sephton stooping to head home a Gaz Peet cross, however the lineswoman's flag on the near side promptly poured ice on any celebrations. After a hallowed half-time Glossop pie, the action resumed with the visitors still searching for an elusive second goal. On the hour mark, the ball fell to Marcus Cusani in acres on the edge, but his effort was acrobatically tipped wide by the keeper. In the 67th, Elliot Rokka had Deja Vu, hitting the post a second time with a carbon copy of his free kick at the other end. As it was threatening to turn into another frustrating afternoon for the Colls, the finishing blow finally arrived courtesy of substitute Liam Martin. The diminutive forward picked up the ball inside the Glossop area, stealing a yard and slotting into the bottom corner to give the black-and-whites a richly deserved cushion going into the final fifteen minutes. Despite leading City of Liverpool by the same scoreline last week only to fall victim to a late capitulation, any nerves amongst the Colls faithful were quickly put to rest by the lads’ strong showing up to the final whistle. Such was the visitors’ dominance, that Glossop’s first shot on target came in the 89th minute, prompting ironic cheers from the home support. Travelling back to Atherton with a great result and another strong showing under their belts, Brad Cooke will be hoping for more of the same when his side makes the journey down to West Yorkshire next week. Colls take on Liversedge in their final pre-season fixture before the return of league action against Hyde United on 14th August. Atherton Collieries: Danny Taberner, Clive Smith, Gaz Peet (C), Danny Lambert (Lewis Doyle 64’), Niall Battersby (Luca Defreitas-Hansen 45’), Joel Amado (Matty Makinson 71’), Ben Conway (Liam Martin 71’), Scott Sephton (Jack Lenehan 71’), Dylan Glass (Ethan Kershaw 64’), Elliot Rokka, Marcus Cusani Report: Danny Brown Photo: Dave Featherstone