For the opening stages, it was difficult to tell that Glapwell will be playing this season a league below Shirebrook as they raced into a 2-0 lead after only 13 minutes.
They were handed a dream start when they took the lead only 32 seconds in when Toby Birch headed home Josh Goodhand’s cross from the left from a couple of yards out.
And after only 13 minutes Glapwell doubled their advantage when Josh Goodhand pounced on a defensive mistake to finish well from a tight angle after rounding the keeper.
Shirebrook, probably a little too over reliant on Antony Rowley on the left wing, threatened at times but lacked a killer instinct in the final third with Jamie Davies never really tested in the Glapwell goal.
But Glapwell did have to make two fine goal-line clearances in the first half to keep hold of their advantage.
The second half saw changes aplenty from both sides with Glapwell fielding almost an entirely different side but they played some good football and nearly scored again after a fine team move with Gareth Vardy’s long range effort just curling past the far post.
Similar to the first half, Shirebrook played some decent enough stuff but lacked in the final third, spurning some good chances while the closest they went was when Jamie Davies tipped a rising effort on to the crossbar.
An impressive start, though, for Glapwell with some fine individual performances and there looks to be plenty to build on over the new few weeks.
Glapwell will next be in action this Tuesday night with a friendly against a Teversal XI at John Fretwell Centre, Sookholme, kick-off 7.30pm.
A report and photographs from groundhopper Rob Hornby can be found on his blog;
http://aroundthegrounds2012-13.blogspot.co.uk/
or from Rob Campion on his blog;