Glapwell in seventh heaven

This was far from Glapwell’s best performance of the season but, nevertheless, they again got the job done which now means that a victory over Brodsworth Welfare at Hall Corner on Saturday will see Glapwell claim the league title.
For 85 minutes, it was business as usual with Glapwell 7-0 up but the last five minutes were pretty sloppy by recent standards with two Newark goals as well as Sam Bartram being sent off in stoppage time.
After the farcical situation of the week previous, Glapwell didn’t have the opportunity that they would have wished for to be crowned champions in this game, which would have coincided with the same date as they last won silverware, the Derbyshire Senior Cup title at Matlock Town back in 1998.
But, there were three changes from their side that had started the victory over Welbeck with Mitchell Mullins, Ross Murcott and Jordan Jones returning to the side in place of Sean Gardner, Josh Clayton and Daniel Russell while Jonathan Heston returned to the squad for the first time in more than three months after injury.
Glapwell didn’t make the usual fast start to this one than they had in recent games, the best was a couple of half chances for both sides but the closest either side went in the opening ten minutes was actually the visitors but Will Fry’s delivery from the right was deflected behind off Ross Murcott.
Glapwell’s best chances saw Jordan Jones fire well over as did Ryan Cancellara before a good move involving Mitchell Mullins, Josh Scully and Josh Parfitt saw Jake Ballinger put his shot wide from the edge of the area.
On 20 minutes, the deadlock was broken as Josh Scully’s hanging cross from the right was headed in by Josh Parfitt at the back post, as he equalled the club record by scoring in his eighth successive appearance.
Eight minutes later the lead was doubled in brilliant circumstances as a free-kick 25 yards from goal was quickly taken by Josh Scully and the ball flew into the top far corner.
It was great thinking by Scully and such was the brilliance of the set-piece that even had the keeper been fully prepared he would have stood little chance of keeping it out anyway.
Glapwell were now in one of their regular purple patches as they scored their third in the space of only 11 minutes as Jordan Jones’ cross from the right was kept alive by Parfitt at the back post and he pulled the ball back to Jake Ballinger whose shot took a deflection but went in anyway for his 20th goal of the season.
Before the break, Glapwell added number four as good build-up play involving Ryan Cancellara and Adam Kimberley saw Josh Parfitt played in and he finished into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
So, despite being far from a classic first half performance Glapwell still went into the break four goals to the good and made a change at the break, replacing Adam Kimberley with Adam Barratt.
The second half started pretty much the same as the first as again there were few real chances despite Glapwell being in control of possession, it was 65 minutes before their first real chance of the second period when the ball fell to Jake Ballinger ten yards from goal but he could only fire straight at Oliver Sinclair in the Newark goal.
Halfway through the second half, Mitchell Mullins nearly added what would have been a fine solo goal as he embarked on a great run past three defenders but his shot was a tight angle on the left smashed into the side netting.
The visitors first real of the second half on 72 minutes saw Will Fry pull the ball back from the right to the edge of the area where Michael Minty couldn’t keep his shot down as it flew well over the bar.
With 12 minutes remaining, Glapwell added their fifth as Josh Scully scored his second of the afternoon, another free-kick which this time was far too good for Oliver Sinclair as it nestled perfectly inside the near post.
Josh Parfitt then nearly completed his hat-trick as he went past three defenders but his powerful effort was palmed away by Sinclair.
Glapwell’s sixth arrived on 84 minutes when the impressive Mullins won the ball back in a dangerous area and found Josh Parfitt who pulled the ball back to Jake Ballinger to tap in from eight yards out.
They weren’t finished there, though, as less than a minute later Glapwell scored their seventh as Josh Parfitt completed his hat-trick with a fine finish from inside the area.
That marked Parfitt’s sixth hat-trick of the season and took his personal tally to 39 as he closes in on finishing the season as the league’s top goalscorer.
But, from that point Glapwell had a sloppy last five minutes with firstly the visitors pulling a goal back when Michael Minty crossed from the left for Dom Swingler whose powerful header flew into the top corner.
The visitors weren’t quite finished there, either, as they scored again a minute later, this time some really sloppy Glapwell defending allowed in Swingler again who rounded Hopkins before tapping the ball into the empty net.
That was a disappointing couple of minutes for Glapwell with two cheap goals but they were then reduced to ten men in stoppage time when Sam Bartram was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on the halfway line.
So, maybe a sloppy last few minutes but still another great afternoon for Glapwell who move to within one victory of securing the league title which can be settled this Saturday with a victory over Brodsworth Welfare at Hall Corner, KO 3pm.
This result extends the unbeaten league run to 20 games, a fantastic record which includes 19 victories and only one draw with 127 goals being scored in that time.
It was also their ninth successive league victory and is the eighth time they have scored seven or more goals in a league game this season.
Glapwell are now within touching distance of the league title which can be settled this week, depending on Phoenix’s midweek result at Thorne and, of course, the game with Brodsworth at the weekend.
Goals: (Glapwell) Parfitt 20; 42; 85; Scully 28; 75; Ballinger 31; 84 (Newark) Swingler 87; 88
Glapwell: Ryan Hopkins, Sam Bartram, Mitchell Mullins, Ryan Cancellara (Sean Gardner 82), Lee Naughton, Ross Murcott (Josh Clayton 67), Josh Scully, Adam Kimberley (Adam Barratt HT), Josh Parfitt, Jake Ballinger, Jordan Jones. Subs not used: Derrick Miller, Jonathan Heston
Glapwell Man of the Match: Mitchell Mullins
Newark: Oliver Sinclair, Ryan Skate, Baxter Smith, Reece Carlisle (Ashley Parkinson 35), Danny Durves, Andy Palmer, Will Fry, Sam Wilford, Dom Swingler, George Rees-Jones, Michael Minty. Subs not used: Steven Crawford, Kevin O’Neill
Red Cards: Bartram (Glapwell) 90
Referee: Gary Lord (Ibstock)