Glapwell Eas-e home in the end

Three second half goals ensured Glapwell maintained their form, and kept the pressure on the top two, with a 3-0 victory at Easington United.

After a goalless, and somewhat frustrating first period, Daniel Russell broke the deadlock just two minutes after the break with Jordan Jones finishing the scoring eight minutes from time either side of Easington player-manager Andy Graham's unfortunate own goal.
Glapwell made the long journey up to the Humber Riviera with their strongest ever squad, having previously travelled with only eight followed by 12 in the last three seasons, but this time they travelled with the luxury of three substitutes.
There was four changes to the Glapwell side from last weekend's victory at Bilsthorpe as Jack Hutchinson, Adam Kimberley, Jake Ballinger and, for the first time since September, Jordan Jones came back into the starting line-up with top scorer Josh Parfitt, Adam Barratt and Josh Thomas unavailable while Sean Gardner dropped down to the bench where he was accompanied again by Jake Levers and Jack Wilson, who was featuring for the first time since picking up a shoulder injury in the final pre-season friendly at Clay Cross back in August.
The first half wasn't really a classic, but Glapwell went close after only five minutes when Adam Kimberley's free-kick from 25 yards brought a fine save out of home keeper Charlie Holden who pushed the ball away.
A strong driving run by Derrick Miller into the box then saw the ball pulled back to Daniel Russell but under pressure from a home defender he blazed his shot high over the bar from the edge of the area.
To the home side's credit they looked dangerous going forward despite the suspension of their leading scorer Danny Barron and they went close on 13 minutes when Glapwell failed to clear a dangerous looking ball from the right and home skipper Anthony Barnett got to the ball first but his header was just wide of the post.
A good ball through to Danny Conman, who beat the offside trap, found the home striker clean through but he tried to be too cute with his shot and only managed to chip it straight into the hands of Ryan Hopkins.
At the other end, Daniel Russell and Jake Ballinger combined well with Ballinger holding off a defender in the area and firing off a shot that Holden tipped over.
The same combination created the final chances of the first half as Russell's clever reverse pass to Ballinger saw his deflected effort parried away by Holden before Holden held on to Ballinger's weak effort right on the stroke of the break.
It was a frustrating first period for Glapwell who had not really got going as they would have liked but the second period started well with Glapwell breaking the deadlock just two minutes after the break.
A defensive slip allowed Daniel Russell to run into space and he rounded keeper Holden before smashing the ball home to give Glapwell the lead.
That was exactly what they needed and the hope was that it would calm the whole second period down and that would certainly have been the case had Jake Ballinger's deflected effort not gone just the wrong side of the post just moments later.
But despite Glapwell now being accomplished in possession they still needed the killer second goal which they had to wait until the 64th minute for. Great play by Ross Murcott saw Daniel Russell get in behind the home defence and his first time effort was parried by Holden with the loose ball being put into his own net by Easington's player-manager Andy Graham under pressure from Jake Ballinger.
Glapwell then made a couple of changes with Adam Kimberley struggling with injury and there was a first competitive appearance for Jack Wilson in nearly 17 months.
With 20 minutes remaining, Glapwell had another big chance to extend their advantage when Jordan Jones found Ross Murcott in acres of space but his shot was tipped around the post by Holden at the near post.
But at the other end, the lead could easily have been halved as from a free-kick a scramble ensued inside the six yard box with Glapwell just about doing enough to keep the ball out.
On 78 minutes, Ryan Hopkins was called into action for the first real time as he tipped Paul Wilkinson's free-kick on to the post with the danger cleared.
Glapwell put a good move together on 82 minutes as they went close to adding a third with Jordan Jones picking out Daniel Russell who brilliantly brought the ball under control before his effort was tipped around the post again by Holden.
With six minutes remaining, though, Glapwell did add some further gloss to their victory as a strong run by Derrick Miller into the Easington half saw the ball drop to Jordan Jones who beat a defender before he brilliantly finished the ball into the top corner from just inside the area.
So, Glapwell record a second away victory in successive weeks, their tenth on the road in total this season with only the goalless draw at Thorne in January spoiling what would be a 100% record away from Hall Corner.
Another welcome clean sheet, their fifth in the last seven league games is pleasing as well and it is now only two goals conceded in that time stretching back to October.
At a venue where Glapwell have struggled in the past, this is only their second victory at Low Farm in five visits, they will be happy with the relative comfort of the final scoreline.
They return to Hall Corner for the first time since December next weekend for the first of three successive home games when the visitors will be bottom of the league Welbeck Welfare, a reminder that kick-offs now return to the normal 3pm.
With 11 league games remaining, eight of which are at home, Glapwell remain in third place but are only a point behind both Phoenix and Harworth Colliery with two games in hand.
Goals: Russell (Glapwell) 47; Graham (Easington) OG 64; Jones (Glapwell) 84
Easington: Charlie Holden, Craig Havercroft (Alex Dickinson 75), Anthony Barnett, Kris Fitzpatrick, Alex Bishop, Andy Graham (Brad Bowden 80), Luke Jeffery, Karl Fitzpatrick, Paul Wilkinson, Danny Conman (Luke Brumhead 78), Jamie Houlton
Glapwell: Ryan Hopkins, Mitchell Mullins, Jack Hutchinson, Ryan Cancellara, Ross Murcott, Derrick Miller, Adam Kimberley (Sean Gardner 69), Jordan Jones, Josh Clayton (Jake Levers 57), Daniel Russell, Jake Ballinger (Jack Wilson 66)
Glapwell Man of the Match: Derrick Miller
Yellow Cards: Murcott (Glapwell) 90; Brumhead (Easington) 90
Referee: Jack Forder (Lincoln)