MISTAKES have proved decisive in the two league encounters between Glossop North End and Northwich Victoria, and Chris Willcock expects it to be no different when the clubs face each other at Wincham Park on Wednesday.
It will be the third time they have met in eight days and so far it’s honours even, with the away side winning on both occasions. However, on Wednesday the stakes are much higher.
The winning side will progress to the NPL first division north play-off final where they will face either Spennymoor or Burscough and the Glossop manager says there will be no hiding place. Experience from the league encounters has taught him that any mistakes will be swiftly punished.
“We were excellent at their place last Wednesday when we won 1-0. It was a very good away performance. Then on Saturday we weren’t quite at it for a number of reasons and found ourselves on the wrong end of the result,” said Willcock.
“Both of us have learned things about the other and on Wednesday there’ll be no hiding place for anyone — players or management. It’s a one-off match and whoever makes the least mistakes will go through because that’s what’s decided the league matches. We won with an own goal at Wincham Park and made a mistake to allow Northwich their second goal at the weekend.
“We’d have preferred to have home advantage but we’re looking forward to the game. Whoever makes the least mistakes will progress into the final.”
Willcock has no injuries or suspensions to worry about.
Vics boss Adam Lakeland, a former coach at Curzon Ashton, was delighted with the way things went at Surrey Street. He told the Northwich Guardian: “I thought we dealt with their pressure brilliantly. We kept our discipline and shape, limiting them to a couple of half-chances.
“The damage was done before half time, after which our performance was a professional and controlled one.
“We knew Glossop would attack after we went in front, and that left us space in which to play.
“The game became more stretched in the second half, which gave us a chance to counter, although I don’t feel we capitalised as well as we should have.”