Glapwell's unbeaten pre-season run finally came to an end when they lost 4-1 to Unibond Premier Division side, Worksop Town , at Hall Corner today.

 

But although the scoreline might suggest that Les McJannet's men took a bit of a caning against the higher opposition, in truth they were never out of a game in which the most significant difference between the two sides on the day was simply the visitors' better ability to find the back of the net.

 

Glapwell gave a start to 21-year-old ex-Mansfield Town striker Danny Reet, who they signed in midweek. Reet ended last season at Alfreton Town , where he had been on loan since just before last Christmas prior to his release by the Stags a month before the end of the disastrous campaign that saw them relegated from the Football League.

 

Possible new recruits also on view for Glapwell were defender Matt Ottley - a former professional with Brighton and Hove Albion who played non-league football at Crawley Town and Sutton United, before Hucknall Town showed an interest in him during this close season - and accomplished midfielder Rocky White, well known and respected locally after long spells with both Matlock Town and Eastwood Town. Short of recent match fitness though, White came on as a substitute with just over half-an-hour of the game to go.

 

Glapwell were first to show when Matt Varley lashed the ball back across the face of goal after just three minutes, when Worksop keeper Steve Hanandez could only palm the ball onto him at the far post off Michael Fox's high corner from the left.

 

Colin Cockerill then headed wide of the visitors goal from Fox's delightful chip over the top seven minutes later.

 

However, Glapwell were fortunate not to go behind after 15 minutes when Paul Dempsey and former Mansfield Town front-man Andy White found room in the box for themselves off Matt Wilson's 40-yard free-kick from the right.

 

But that just proved to be a sign of things to come and the visitors eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes later when the ball was worked to Kevin Sanasy, who was in acres of space at the far side off Kevin Dawson's free-kick from the right. And with more than enough time to set himself for the half-volley, he fairly smashed the ball past Glapwell keeper Laurence Matthewson from 16 yards.

 

White headed over just after the half-hour as Worksop looked to consolidate their lead, but the home side hit back on 37 minutes, despite loud claims by the visitors for offside, when Neil Grayson was on hand to deftly touch the ball on and into the net from 14 yards after Cockerill drilled it low through a sea of players from 15 yards outside the box to the right.

 

Parity didn't last long though and four minutes later, with Glapwell once again guilty of slack marking, Dempsey fired the ball into the net from the edge of the box after Dawson laid the ball back to him off Ryan Ludlam's cross from the right.

 

Worksop looked stronger after the interval and almost doubled their advantage when Sanasy rattled one in from 20 yards, only to see his shot deflected inches over the Glapwell bar just three minutes after the re-start.

 

The home side survived another scare on 57 minutes when Kirk Jackson broke through to be one-on-one with Matthewson, but the young keeper threw out a leg to save the shot and deny the visitors again.

 

However, there was nothing Matthewson could do after Fox had brought Ludlam down with a desperate challenge inside the penalty area, and Sanasy comfortably converted the spot-kick to give the visitors what then appeared to be an unassailable lead on 69 minutes, which was the signal for Worksop manager Peter Rinkavage to bring on most of his remaining substitutes and trialists from the bench.

 

And that handed the advantage to Glapwell, as the game swung in their favour for the remaining 20 minutes.

 

Indeed, it looked to be merely a matter of time before the home side found the back of the net, which they very nearly did five minutes before the end of the game when substitute Jake Williams swivelled on the edge of the box, only to be denied by the visitors' reserve keeper with a good diving save to his right.

 

Glapwell then cruelly went further behind a minute later when, against the run of play, Worksop substitute Andy Lee volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box to wrap up the scoring.

 

Glapwell's first ever Unibond League campaign begins next Saturday with a trip to Spalding United. Kick-off is at 3 o'clock , for which the players and supporters coach leaves Hall Corner at 11.30am .

 

Before that though is a trip to Central Midlands outfit Blidworth Welfare on Tuesday evening for Glapwell's final warm-up game. That one kicks off at 7.30pm .

 

Glapwell: Matthewson (West 77), Ottley (White 54), Hollingworth, Varley, Roebuck, Davies, Cockerill, Rimington (Burdett 65), N Grayson (Pickess 77), Reet (Williams 67), Fox. Sub not used: A Grayson

Glapwell Man of the Match: Matt Varley

 

Worksop Town : Hanandez, Ludlam, Davies, Stansfield, Wilson, Dawson, Rowland, Dempsey, White, Sanasy, Jackson. Subs: Smith , Jordan , Boyce, Jennings , Lee.

 

Referee: Peter Lang (Westhouses)

 

Estimated Attendance: 80