Glapwell made the best possible start to life at step four of the non-league footballing pyramid with a fine 2-1 win over Spalding United at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, Spalding, today.
It was something of a leap into the unknown for the Unibond newcomers, but Les McJannet's Glapwell soon warmed to the task in hand against the Tulips, a side full of hope and barely recognisable from the one that failed to win a single league home game last season.
After the very early exchanges, which the home side probably just shaded, Glapwell dominated the opening half for long periods and were finally rewarded five minutes before the interval when Michael Fox opened the club's Unibond goal account with a memorable left-foot strike from 20 yards that beat keeper Luke McShane low to his right.
And barely a minute later, on-loan striker Danny Reet almost doubled the visitors' advantage from the same distance, but this time McShane was equal to the effort, tipping the ball around the post to his left as it was rising towards the roof of the net.
It was an outstanding save by the keeper, one which gave Spalding something to build on after the interval, and parity was eventually restored on 65 minutes when skipper Andy Stanhope's pin-point cross from the right picked out substitute Paul Tocco running in at the far post, and he volleyed the ball into the net from eight yards.
But Glapwell were determined not to let anything spoil their special day and a sweet one-two between midfielder Fox and Simon Wright on the left put the defender through on the overlap four minutes later. Unchallenged, Wright cut into the Tulips' box from the left before cleverly deceiving McShane and firing into the roof of the net at the near post, instead of crossing the ball for Reet and strike-partner Neil Grayson available in on the right.
After that there looked likely to be only one winner, and Glapwell's Matt Ottley seemed to have put the result beyond any doubt two minutes later with a rasping shot from 25 yards, but the ball clipped the outside of the post to McShane's left.
However, Spalding were very nearly gifted a point four minutes before the end when Glapwell's young keeper Laurence Matthewson failed to hang on to Shaun Carey's lofted free kick from the left which dropped wickedly under the bar in the swirling wind. Good fortune was on Matthewson's side though and, virtually unchallenged, he was able to gather the ball at the second attempt before it crossed the line to his left.
Glapwell were good value for their win with solid performances throughout the team, including one from eleventh-hour signing Marc Stevenson, a central defender brought in at the last minute from Unibond Premier Division neighbours Eastwood Town . He hardly put a foot wrong in his debut game.
Next up for Glapwell is a tough midweek home fixture against relegated Stamford on Tuesday evening, kick-off at 7.45pm at Hall Corner. And that's followed next Saturday with another home game when the visitors will be local rivals Carlton Town ; kick-off for that one is 3.00pm .
Spalding United: McShane, Jones, Allen (Tocco 52), Carey, Julian, Hurst (Holyoak 58), Stanhope, Miller, Ward, Wormall, Reeves (Kennedy H/T). Subs not used: Blake, Roberts.
Glapwell: Matthewson, Ottley, Wright, Varley, Stevenson, Davies, Cockerill (Burdett 79), Rimington, N Grayson (Pickess 87), Reet (Williams 74), Fox. Subs not used: Roebuck, West.
Glapwell Man of the Match: Matt Varley
Referee: Martin Chester
Yellow Cards: Williams (Glapwell) 84
STATS
SPALDING UNITED |
|
GLAPWELL |
10 |
ATTEMPTS AT GOAL |
13 |
8 |
ATTEMPTS ON TARGET |
3 |
3 |
CORNERS WON |
4 |
1 |
CAUGHT OFFSIDE |
5 |
6 |
FOULS COMMITTED |
16 |
0 |
YELLOW CARDS |
1 |
0 |
RED CARDS |
0 |
