There were three changes from the 1-0 home defeat to Westella as Chris Rhodes returned to the starting line-up in place of the injured Aaron Shelley whilst Lee Easom and Ashley Ruse also started with Steve Shannon and Adam Fletcher both unavailable.

And, as has been the case in recent games, Glapwell were up against it early as the home side did the early running. Sam Hadfield twice seeing shots blocked by Jamie Davies while the closest Glapwell went in the opening stages was when Ashley Ruse headed wide from Adam Jones’ cross.

The game soon settled down with neither side really looking like scoring but Glapwell went close on 25 minutes. Jones playing a good ball into the path of Lee Easom who turned and curled a low shot just past the far post from just outside the area.

But with the hosts’ first real chance they took the lead on the half hour. A long kick up field by home keeper Matt Herschell-Smith found its way to Nick Foster who finished emphatically from 15 yards to leave Davies with no chance.

Following the goal, Glapwell heads seemed to drop a bit although they could have levelled on 37 minutes when Easom played a neat ball through to Justin Burdett, who had probably his best game so far this season, but his shot was blocked by the keeper.

However, with half-time approaching the hosts doubled their advantage. A long ball was played up to Nick Foster who did well to hold off Craig Charlesworth and finished brilliantly over Davies, who was well off his line.

It really was a poor performance in the first half and they came out in the second period with much more purpose to try and claw their way back into the game.

And just after the break Ricky Starbuck went on a fine individual run, which saw him beat three defenders, before he forced Phoenix keeper Matt Herschell-Smith into his first real save as he tipped over the fizzing effort.

Glapwell now had more urgency about them and they reduced the deficit on 55 minutes. Lee Easom’s original shot brought a good save from Herschell-Smith but the loose ball only fell as far as Justin Burdett who had a simple finish for his first goal of the season.

Easom then tried his luck from 25 yards but his shot was never going to trouble the keeper as it flew well over the bar.

But Glapwell went closer on the hour mark when Starbuck and Easom combined well down the left before Easom’s shot was again palmed out by the keeper but this time there was nobody following in and the ball was cleared.

It seemed, though, like a matter of time until they scored again but they were nearly caught out at the back when Craig Charlesworth collided with Steve Spence as the striker bore down on goal with Charlesworth, maybe, a little lucky to only get away with a yellow card.

The home side never got going, though, in the second period and their performance after the break was summed up by Dave Gleason’s free-kick which flew well over the bar.

And Glapwell thought they had equalised with 12 minutes left as Adam Jones’ in-swinging free-kick was met by Justin Burdett who saw his header come crashing back out off the post with the keeper well beaten.

But just as they were getting some momentum going heading into the final stages, Glapwell’s task was made even harder when they were reduced to ten-men with five minutes left. Jay Whalley given a straight red card for leading with his elbow which left Phoenix’s Warren Carpenter with a nasty cut above his left eye.

It was a red card that couldn’t really be argued with but the sending off seemed to spur on Glapwell who went close in the final minute but Herschell-Smith did well to hold on to Ricky Starbuck’s low effort.

But Glapwell weren’t finished there as they deservedly equalised in the first minute of injury time. The impressive Ricky Starbuck playing the ball into Justin Burdett who played the ball over the top towards Lee Easom who went in bravely with the keeper and just got to the ball first, sending his header inside the near post from eight yards to earn Glapwell a point.

They, perhaps, deserved a point for their second half performance but they might have had a chance to steal all three points when the ball was played into Adam Jones, who was in acres of space, but he was flagged offside despite looking at least a yard onside.

Glapwell, though, would have taken a point at half-time but there will still be some concerns over the performance, particularly in the first half, and it is now four games without a win in the league which sees them drop to tenth.

As it stands, Glapwell’s next league fixture is now not until Tuesday 4th October when they host Kiveton Park, 7.45pm.

Goals : Foster (Phoenix) 30; Foster (Phoenix) 44; Burdett (Glapwell) 55; Easom (Glapwell) 90

Phoenix : Matt Herschell-Smith, Nick Womack, Carl Fleming, Liam Colclough, Warren Carpenter, Dave Gleason, Sam Hadfield, Arun Cross, Nick Foster (Dan Wild), Steve Spence (Jordan Wilkinson), Carl Garlick (Solomon Ebunyebe)

Glapwell : Jamie Davies, Tom Robley, Ricky Starbuck, Craig Charlesworth, Jay Whalley, Justin Burdett, Adam Jones, Chris Rhodes, Lee Easom, Ashley Ruse (Craig Shaw 79), Jack Lomax (Danny Hutchinson 70). Sub not used : Richard Preston
Glapwell Man of the Match : Ricky Starbuck

Yellow Cards : Burdett (Glapwell) 61; Charlesworth (Glapwell) 74

Red Cards : Whalley (Glapwell) 85

Referee : Chris Stevens (Hucknall)