Glossop were missing some big players but were fortunate that Steve Page, John Kirk and John Rathburn were available to make their debuts and they also welcomed the return of Phil Hagerty who had looked explosive in recent net sessions.
The wicket looked good, and with Glossop winning the toss, they chose to bat with the hope of posting another big score. Lewis Calvert and Phil Hagerty opened the innings and put Charlesworth under immediate pressure with some quick singles. Charlesworth were bowling some good lines but were perhaps a little short of length and were duly punished with some big hitting by Hagerty who smashed 2 big sixes and lost 2 balls in the process. Calvert wanted some of the action himself and some quick boundaries brought up the 50 partnership in the 6th over. Both Hagerty (26*) and Calvert (27*) retired not out after setting Glossop up for the perfect start.
In came Steve Page who kept things moving quickly, smashing some boundaries of his own, helped by Steve Kirkham and John Rathburn who knocked some quick singles to get Steve back on strike who capped his debut with a sublime 26 not out. To have Richard Marsden and Tim Halpin at 6 and 7 shows the depth of talent this Glossop team possess and both didn’t disappoint. Charlesworth had dropped their field due to the earlier onslaught, but both still managed to hit some glorious 4s and kept things ticking. An exciting partnership brought Halpin to 25* not out, quickly followed by Marsden (25* not out) and Glossop were looking good for a total around the 165 mark. Some tight bowling by Charlesworth in the final few overs brought some wickets but the fans were still treated to a few boundaries by Sam Alder and Andy Wilde as Glossop posted 152.
Due to the absence of Rick Ingham, Glossop needed to find a new opening strike bowler to partner Halpin and the ball was thrown to Marsden. Halpin opened up with a solid over but it was Marsden who took the spotlight. Super line and length caused all sorts of problems for the Charlesworth openers and the dead lock was broken in the second over by Marsden with a ball that scooted through and clattered into the stumps. His second over brought more success with another victim cleaned bowled. The ball after….another victim clean bowled….Marsden was on a hattrick…..The field came in, Marsden sent the ball down and it just missed the outside edge. No hattrick but a great spell gave Marsden figures of 3 for 8.
Charlesworth were rocked but with James Turley at the crease they always had a chance of mounting a challenge. Sam Alder and John Kirk bowled the next 4 and kept it tight. The mix of left arm medium pace and right arm spin caused problems and it was Kirk who created the next opportunity with a devilish ball that was lobbed out to mid wicket, a diving effort by Taylor got his hands to the ball but it popped out on landing and Kirk was denied a debut wicket. Glossop were getting further on top in the field and a great piece of fielding by John Rathburn left the Glossop man in a heap on the floor. Rathburn had to drive himself to hospital where it appears he has a dislocated shoulder, All the team wish him a quick recovery.
With Rathburn out, Glossop had to find 2 overs from somewhere, Oliver Halpin had come on for Rathburn but it was Andy Wilde who stood up, took off the wicket keeping pads and took the ball. A fine first over bowling in tandem with Steve Page kept Charlesworth on the back foot and in both their seconds overs they struck. Page first, caught by Tim Halpin at short mid off and then a wicked googly by Wilde cleaned out the Charlesworth batsman. Charlesworth was behind the rate when Steve Kirkham came on to bowl, but he kept it tight with his best figures of the season, 2 overs 6 runs 1 maiden. Calvert and Taylor bowled the last 4, Calvert as tight as ever not giving anything away and Taylor cleaned up the tail with 2 wickets, the first of which clipped the top of the bails and whilst Andy Wilde was celebrating behind the stumps, promptly hit him in the centre of the forehead sending the keeper down. Fortunately he recovered, as the next ball was edged, dropped short of Page at slip who feathered it to Kirkham at gully who fired it in to Wilde who took off the bails for another runout stumping for Glossop’s Keeper.
Charlesworth ended up on 108 and Glossop had won by 44 runs. A superb team performance where every player contributed. Glossop don’t just win, they offer comedy aswel which was apparent when Phil Hagerty, when looking for a ball fell though a fence and onto barbed wire. He survived and Glossop go Marching on.
Man of the Match
After a tough outing last time, Richard Marsden came back with a bang scoring 25 not out and taking 3 wickets for 8 runs. A superb all round performance and well deserved MOM.
Glossop are now 4 wins out of 4 and welcome Hare and Hounds to North Road in a few weeks time. Another tough test, but one I think as a squad we can more than cope with.
Up The Vets