Barnoldswick Town 0 Glossop North End 2

TOWN'S relegation fears just won't go away and this defeat by the Premier Division leaders and FA Vase finalists was not what they needed.

Although the outcome was what the formbook would have predicted, Town would have been hoping that their opponents' busy schedule would have left them battle weary.

The home side, who had lost 2-0 at Winsford United on Thursday night to late goals by Alfred Hammond and Daniel Egan, fell behind after ten minutes when skipper Matthew Cavanagh was adjudged to have brought down Lee Blackshaw just inside the penalty area.

Referee David Fisher awarded a penalty and cautioned Cavanagh before Glossop skipper David Young sent Town keeper Scott Reid the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.

Although Town had a fair share of the ball it wasn’t until the half hour mark that they threatened Gregory Hall’s goal. Joel Melia went past Glossop full back Matthew Russell and pulled the ball back into the danger area but nobody could apply the finishing touch.

Only a brilliant tackle from Anthony Pollard on Blackshaw prevented Glossop from increasing their lead. There was also a let off for the home side when Kieran Lugsden had a goal disallowed.

Town were forced into a half-time substitution when skipper Cavanagh had to withdraw after a clash with a Glossop player left him with a suspected broken nose, he was replaced by James Gill who was to feature in the game's big talking point.

He was floored in an accidental collision – something he pointed out to the referee – but the official decided it was deliberate and sent off Glossop's Jason Carey who could now miss his team's FA Vase final appearance at Wembley.

Town’s only real chance at goal came from a corner when in a goalmouth melee Hall was called upon to tip a header over his crossbar.

Glossop secured the three point when substitute Mark Reed found himself unmarked to plant a fierce header past Scott Reid from a corner.

There was more red card action in the 85th minute when Town's Thomas Henderson received a second caution for taking exception to Lugsden's time wasting at a throw in.