Five star Glapwell go to Town on Ollerton

Glapwell strengthened their title challenge as they put fifth-placed Ollerton Town to the sword at Hall Corner, romping home with a 5-1 victory.

The nature of this victory will be particularly pleasing as in front of a healthy crowd, after a close first 20 minutes or so, Glapwell dominated a game that was expected by many to be a classic due to the league position and the recent form of both sides.
Both sides were in what appeared to be a five-way race for the title beforehand and with Ollerton coming into the game with nine victories in their last ten league games, including an impressive victory against current leaders Phoenix back in January, a great game was anticipated.
Glapwell made two changes from the victory over Dronfield the week previous with Josh Clayton and Mitchell Mullins dropping down to the bench with Jake Ballinger returning to the starting line-up while there was a debut for Joshua Scully, recently signed from Clipstone.
The opening exchanges were pretty even with the visitors looking dangerous going forward, and it took a couple of committed blocks in and around their penalty area, for Glapwell to escape unscathed from the first few minutes.
But, with less than ten minutes played Glapwell went in front. Daniel Russell did well down the left and got a shot off that was tipped around the post by Ollerton keeper Simon Smith.
It was from this resulting corner that Glapwell struck first as Scully's set-piece from the left was met by a powerful header by Josh Parfitt at the near post which left Smith with no chance.
That was exactly the start that Glapwell had been wishing for and it could have been even better less than a minute later as Parfitt played in Jake Ballinger whose effort took a slight deflection off a defender and flew wide.
The visitors were still very much in it, though, despite Glapwell having the chances and they should have doubled their lead on 21 minutes when Ryan Cancellara found Josh Parfitt who took a touch before attempting to dink the ball over Smith but he got too much on it and it flew harmlessly over the bar.
On 25 minutes, though, the visitors were level in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Kyle Clarkson's free-kick from just outside the area took a wicked deflection off a player in the wall which completely wrong footed Ryan Hopkins and looped up into the top of the net.
It was from this point that it looked like being an even, close first half but Glapwell went up to the next level and effectively put the game out of Ollerton's reach with two goals in three minutes before the break.
Firstly, on 36 minutes, they went back in front when Joshua Scully's through ball to Jordan Jones saw him tap the ball around a defender to Daniel Russell who slotted the ball home from close range.
They didn't rest on that, though, and three minutes later extended their advantage as Adam Kimberley found Scully inside the area who took his time and calmly slotted the ball past Simon Smith into the far corner.
Two goals in such a short space of time had knocked the wind out of the visitors and Glapwell could have been completely out of sight before half-time when Josh Parfitt beat Smith to the ball on the right side of the penalty area and he pulled the ball back to Daniel Russell whose acrobatic effort was just wide of the post.
But it was a solid first half for Glapwell and, despite the visitors making a change at the break, Glapwell ran themselves out of Ollerton's sight with another quick-fire two goals just after the break which finished the game off as a contest.
On 49 minutes, it was four for Glapwell as Jordan Jones did well down the right before playing the ball inside to Parfitt who turned and played a brilliant through-ball to Daniel Russell who brilliantly finished the ball across Smith and into the far corner.
The quality of that goal could not be underestimated, right from the build-up to the accomplished finish which was Russell's second of the afternoon and his sixth in the last four matches.
Glapwell weren't finished there, though, and added a fifth on 53 minutes in a goal finished by Parfitt but almost entirely made by the impressive Russell.
Firstly, he brilliantly flicked the ball over a defender's head on the halfway line before chasing the ball down into the corner where he got the better of another Ollerton defender where he then got to the by-line and pulled the ball back to Parfitt who tapped in at the near post.
That was another quality goal and, indeed, all five of Glapwell's goals on the day were of the highest standard which, unfortunately for the visitors, they couldn't live with.
On the hour, though, Ollerton thought they had pulled one back when good play down the left by Lewis Bingham saw him pull the ball back to the middle where Kyle Ludlow finished but he was denied by an offside flag.
A host of substitutions from both sides reduced the flow of the game but as a contest it was already up but Glapwell could have further extended their advantage with 15 minutes remaining when another fantastic move saw Daniel Russell put the ball back into the danger zone which Parfitt missed in the middle but Ross Murcott coming around the back couldn't quite find the target as his powerful effort smashed into the side netting.
A final chance for the visitors with five minutes remaining saw Ryan Hopkins make a smart save from Kyle Clarkson's effort with Lewis Bingham waiting on any potential rebound.
This is a really impressive victory for Glapwell who saw off the challenge of one of the sides expected to make an impact around the top end of the table in the remaining few games.
They have now extended their unbeaten league run to 15 matches, a run which includes 14 victories and only one draw, and they have gone past the 14 matches that the club went unbeaten when they won promotion to the Evo-Stik League in 2007-2008.
They are just one behind the 16 unbeaten league games which remains a record for a Glapwell FC side which was achieved during the 2009-2010 season.
Glapwell remain second in the league but with a strengthened position courtesy of leaders Phoenix's draw at Askern on Saturday which means Glapwell are just two points behind with three games in hand on the leaders.
A crucial Easter weekend double comes next with a trip to Retford FC, one of only two sides to beat Glapwell in the league this season, on Saturday, kick-off 3pm, before returning to Hall Corner on Easter Monday for the visit of Askern FC, kick-off at the slightly earlier time of 1pm.

Goals: Parfitt (Glapwell) 9; Clarkson (Ollerton) 25; Russell (Glapwell) 36; Scully (Glapwell) 39; Russell (Glapwell) 49; Parfitt (Glapwell) 53
Glapwell: Ryan Hopkins, Jordan Jones, Jack Hutchinson, Ryan Cancellara, Derrick Miller, Ross Murcott, Adam Kimberley, Joshua Scully (Adam Barratt 56), Josh Parfitt (Josh Thomas 76), Jake Ballinger (Josh Clayton 69), Daniel Russell. Subs not used: Sam Bartram, Mitchell Mullins
Glapwell Man of the Match: Ross Murcott
Ollerton: Simon Smith, Tom Cooke, Paul Burgess (Rob Evans HT), Sam Stretton, Eddie Bishop (Craig Stanton 57), Jordan Schofield, Kyle Clarkson, Ben Bowring, Kyle Ludlow (Danny Wiltshire 66), Lewis Bingham, Sam Dockwray. Subs not used: Jamie Charlton, Jamie Allan
Referee: Jamie O'Connor