Glapwell fight back for victory

Games between the two sides are usually close-fought, entertaining affairs but the opening 45 minutes of this one were fairly uninspiring, though the second half made up for it somewhat.

The visitors took control of possession in the opening stages and they had the first chance, but player/manager Ant Lynam fired well over the bar from 30 yards.

However, on 11 minutes, Glapwell had a big chance when James Whitfield cut inside and played in Adam Seward, who should have done better as he blazed a shot over the bar.

The next chance for the visitors also fell to Lynam, but he volleyed well over the bar from 30 yards before Luke Hollis struck a sweet effort that he did well to keep down, but it was never troubling the net as it flew wide.

Glapwell had the best chance of the first half, though, when Ash Barber played in Seward, who was denied by Matt Bradwell in the visitors’ goal as the sides went in goalless.

The second half was much better and Glapwell went close when Peter Hibbard brought a fine save out of Bradwell before Ash Barber saw an header cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

Whitfield then had the ball in the net but was denied by an offside flag before the visitors took the lead when Lynam played in substitute James Goodison, who kept his composure to tuck the ball past Ryan Hopkins.

Their lead lasted only three minutes, though, as Ash Barber laid the ball off to Peter Hibbard who finished well from eight yards.

The game was then quickly turned on its head as Glapwell took the lead just two minutes later when James Whitfield did well to beat two defenders before tucking the ball under Bradwell.

Clay Cross had a chance to level before the end, but James Goodison’s header was kept out by a combination of Ryan Hopkins and the post before Gary Morton fired an effort over the bar right at the death as Glapwell recorded a deserved victory.