BACUP'S self-destruct button was pressed yet again as they suffered from a host of missed chances and two gifted goals.

Glossop took the lead a quarter of the way into the first half when Bacup's skipper Lee Anderson's short back header was seized upon by the visitors midfield player 30 yards out with Tommy Allen off his line.

The midfield player's first time hit shot dropped over the keeper's head into the net.

Bacup almost equalised when Dave Grey made a strong run and put a quality ball in the box, Steve Stott closed in on an advancing defender and was first to the ball, his pass found Anderson whose first time shot was blocked by the Glossop keeper.

The keeper was now beginning to lead a charmed life when another good run by Grey resulted in him rounding the stranded keeper.

Grey was now wide of goal but laid a perfect ball into the advancing Thompson, who somehow had to adjust from a bad first touch.

Skipper Lee Anderson burst in to shoot into the empty net only to be thwarted by the keeper who had now recovered.

At the break manager Brent Peters made two changes, introducing Mark Rawstron and Karl Stanley for Lee Kershaw and Scott Gilchrist.

Mark Rawstron was soon in action when he picked out Lee Anderson, his well-hit shot was saved but parried.

Paul Thomson quickly followed in stretching he just failed to convert, then Lee Anderson looped the ball over the visitors flat defence. Thompson was through on goal but the Glossop keeper was quick off his line and cleared the danger.

Glossop did have a chance to increase their lead when Grey failed to hold the ball up his under hit pass was quickly latched upon, Glossop drove forward in numbers then brought an excellent save from Allen.

In order to get back into the game the home side introduced another striker Martin Peters who did have the ball in the net but the linesman's raised flag ruled his goal out.

Glossop's second goal came following defender Micky Charlton's slip. The striker took advantage, wrong-footed McLellan before placing the ball to their left sided midfield player who had run into the box unopposed and struck from close range.

Bacup did pull a goal back from the penalty spot when Steve Stott's initial penalty was saved by the keeper and Stott followed up to crash the ball home.

BACUP BOROUGH...1 GLOSSOP NORTH END...2