Cozball – Episode 4 - On The Road To Glory

Match Report - Charlesworth and Chisworth Social vs Glossop CC Vets (Thursday 25th July)
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

Glossop Cricket Club are proud to annouce a new women's softball team for the upcoming season. Playing a mixture of competitive matches and social festival and tournaments - something for everyone. Outdoor training will take place on Sundays in September. Winter training will start on Sunday 26th October at Glossopdale School (3-4pm) Please contact secretary@glossopcc.co.uk for further details.

Match Report: Hayfield Nomads v Glossop Vets (26th August 2025) Play Cricket Scorecard On a beautiful Tuesday evening, Glossop Vets made the short journey over Chunal to play the Nomads - their last game of the season. Expectation was high and spirits were up, the Vets really wanted to put on a show ….and the fans that travelled were not disappointed. Glossop welcomed Liam Amos and Dan Keeley for their debuts, the Nomads were put into bat and Glossop set about trying to keep them down to a small total on the undulating ground with one of the smallest boundaries seen all season. Glossop opened with Jay Allen and Sam Alder. Alder looked a little rusty due to a short lay off, but still had a few magic deliveries. Allen looked a bit stiff after his 5 over spell for the 3rds but managed to keep the Nomads down to 21 runs in the first 4. Ted Mitchell and Dan Keeley were next up. Both turned the screw with superb line and length and both were rewarded. Mitchell first with a fizzing delivery that was knocked high back towards him, he managed to back pedal and hold off the challenge from Ste Kirkham to take a high catch off his own bowling. Keeley next, superb full length delivery taking the stumps out the ground…the pair had bowled 4 overs, took 2 wickets for 7 runs combined. Nomads were under pressure. Steve Kirkham and Dave Allen bowled the next set. Kirkham steady. Allen bowling with his usual unusual run up causing issues and managed to sneak one through the gate for the Vets 3rd wicket. But this brought Nomads middle order to the crease - and their middle order is dangerous. Liam Amos and Tim Halpin had to try come up with some plans to take some quick wickets and it was Amos who struck. A full straight delivery nipping the bails off. The danger man was gone…unfortunatly this brought the other danger man to the crease and he didn't hold back, hitting a quick 20. Halpin bowled well, showing last year's form..the vets hoping he can take this into next season. Due to some expansive hitting the Nomads were on 122 off 16 overs and at risk of posting a big total. Rick Marsden and Taylor bowled the last 4. Both were tight. Taylor took 3 quick wickets for 1 run and Marsden closed down his end only going for 3 runs and bowling a maiden for the 20th over. Fielding was on point and the vets had held the Nomads to 126 . Halpin and Kirkham opened the batting, Both started well. Kirkham hitting his first 6 of the season to score a quick fire 10 before being caught out. Halpin, this time with the bat, looking back to his best. Marsden joined him at the crease and both set about knocking off the runs. Halpin, then Marsden started to open the shoulders and boundaries were keeping the Vets up with the run rate. Both retired unbeaten, Halpin on 23 off 17 and Marsden with 23 off 20. Allen and Keeley were now at the crease. Allen hit a 6 but was out next ball, caught in the deep for 8. Keeley was looking composed, playing some proper cricket shots with 2 lovely cover drives to the boundary to move onto 14. Taylor joined him at the crease. Keeley then got a ripper that took his middle stump out, Mitchell came in who had been in imperious form, first ball…straight through the gate and bowled. Glossops danger man was gone for a golden. Nomads bowler was on a hattrick ... .the field came in….but in came Super Sam Alder. First ball…4…second ball …4…third ball…4….fouth ball….4….fifth ball…you guessed it….4…..Alder had put the vets in an unloseable position and had scored the quickest retirement of the season with a 400% strike rate….now thats Cozball!! Taylor retired on 10 leaving Wilde and Jay Allen to score the winning runs. Wilde went big trying to finish it early but was caught on the boundary, with a 1 handed catch. Amos came to join Allen at the crease, the vets only needing 2 runs off 3 overs to win. Nomads were tight around the bat and Allen couldn't get the ball away. Tensions were rising in the Vets dressing room…surley Allen could hit 1…and he did, a wide delivery..Allen spun on it and hit it hard behind him nearly hitting the wicketkeeper with bat and ball… but it flew to the boundary and the vets had finished the season on a high. 4 wins on the bounce to cap a good 3rd season. Man of the Match - Sam Alder. Explosive batting won the game, Best strike rate of the season and was great to watch. Cozball in its finest form. The vets will now take a break but will be having a presentation and a christmas doo and it will be great to all get together and talk crap about how good we were this season and how we need to improve and try come up with a plan to get our achey bones through another season…but i hope everyone enjoyed the year and i look forward to seeing you back in the nets next year. Up The Vets