Cozball – Season 3 - Can they go UNBEATEN again??
The weather Gods were shining brightly as Glossop Vets started their 2025 campaign with a tough away trip to Broadbottom. After an unbeaten 2024 season, the pressure was on to see if the team could recreate the highs of the 24 season……and in this first outing they didn’t disappoint. Glossop gave a debut to Tom Rogers, and after some rather hectic and considerably dangerous catching practise, Broadbottom were put into bat.
Glossop opened with Jay Allen and Rick Ingham, possibly the oldest opening pair in the history of cricket, but both started well and in the 3rd over Allen came to life and struck with a lovely length delivery that was played on to the stumps….and the Vets were away.
Allen struck again in the same over, clean bowled, and had now claimed both openers to finish with match best figures of 2 overs, 2 runs, 2 wickets. First change saw Richard Marsden and Sam Alder take the attack to Broady. Marsden was steady but it was Alder who was causing issues and he got his just reward for good line and length with a fizzing delivery that took out the middle stump. His first wicket for Glossop Vets …the first of many.
Glossop kept the pressure on with good fielding which was paramount on the fast outfield but with Broadbottom middle order starting to free their shoulders abit, Glossop needed to make a breakthrough. Up step Tom Rogers and Steve Kirkham. Rogers kept it tight from one end but it was Kirkham who broke the hearts of Broady fans, striking twice, the first an fat edge to point where Calvert took the catch, this time with his hands and not his face, and the second a lovely dipping yorker leaving the Broadbottom batsman cleaned bowled.
The final 4 overs brought some success for Broady with some big 6 hitting but 2 further wickets helped to keep the score chaseable. Taylor struck the stumps and Calvert found the edge, which was gobbled up by Andy Wilde behind the stumps, capping a fine performance by Wilde in the field.
Broadbottom finished on 120 for 7. Let the Chase begin...
Glossop’s 20+ fans were expectant of a victory but with the sun going down Glossop would need to get a move on. Ingham and Taylor opened. Taylor took the majority of the strike in the first 3 overs, scoring a quick 14 before being cleaned bowled. Wilde came to the crease and started strong with 2 quick boundaries and some good running with Ingham. Ingham was going steadily along anchoring the team. Wilde was eventually out for 16, coming down the wicket to some spin, the ball dipped, Wilde missed it and was stumped by Broadbottoms very impressive under 15s Wk.
This brought Marsden to the crease with Glossop needing a destructive innings from their number 4 to stay ahead of the run rate. Marsden started abit nervously but once he got his eye in, he started hitting the boundaries. Marsden and Ingham dovetailed well and both approached 25. Marsden was the first to reach the milestone with a crunching boundary ending on 28 not out. Ingham was soon to follow with a boundary of his own capping his best batting performance with the vets, scoring 27 not out.
Allen and Halpin were now at the crease with Glossop needing around 30 runs for victory. Both batted well, moving the ball around and guided Glossop home with 5 overs to spare. Halpin finishing on 15 not out and Allen on 14 not out. Its shows the depth of Glossop’s team that Marsh, Calvert, Alder, Kirkham and Rogers were left in the shed but there is serious competition for places in this batting line up.
Glossop ended on 123 -2
and took their first scalp of the season.
Man of the Match: Andy Wilde. A fine performance behind the stumps, taking a catch and topped off with a quick fire 16 runs to set Glossop on route to Victory
Up The Vets!
Match Report: Glossop CC Vets & Sponsors vs Hayfield Nomads
The Weekly Wrap-Up (11th August 2025)
The Resurgence Continues