AFC Mansfield

Archive Match Reports 2014/2015

Saturday 2nd May 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 3 – 0 Rossington Main



The Bulls completed the season with another win to make it 7 games unbeaten with a 3-0 score line against Rossington Main.  Grant Allott grabbed a brace and Dean Rick netted his 23rd goal of the season to become leading goalscorer 3 years on the trot.

Rossington made it a difficult first 45 minutes for the home side as they competed for every ball.  Dan Green saw his low drive easily saved on 11 minutes and 2 minutes later Dean Rick had his header parried by Jordan Wildey and Joe Lamplough’s follow up cleared the bar in a busy opening 15 minutes.

The game became a bit of a midfield battle with neither side claiming an advantage and it wasn’t until the 36 minute that another chance worthy of a mention came about.  Jordan Hatton forced Jason White into a save which saw Captain Chris Timons hook away the loose ball for a corner.

White was in action again on 40 minutes with a double save.  His first was to parry Hatton’s low drive from just outside the box and then recovering to deny Green with the follow up from point blank range.

At the other end Craig Mitchell saw his shot turned around the post for a corner on 41 minutes and from the resulting kick Mitchell fired over the bar.

The breakthrough came in the final minute of the half, a Ryan Williams corner was not dealt with by the visitors and when the ball eventually dropped to the feet of Grant Allott he fired into the roof of the net to put The Bulls in front.

The 2nd half was completely different to the 1st with AFC Mansfield dominating from start to finish, Rossington looked to have run out of steam.

The Bulls doubled their lead on the hour mark when an Ashley Kitchen long throw beat the defenders and Rick was on hand to loop the ball over Wildey and into the net.

Three minutes later and the game was effectively over when Grant Allott rose above the pack to plant his header into the net from a Jimmy Ghaichem corner.

Allott missed his hat-trick by inches when he headed over on 78 minutes and Phil Buxton saw his edge of the box effort clear the bar a minute later.

Other chances went begging at both ends but there were to be no more goals and after 6 minutes of added time the referee blew to end the match and the season for both sides.

AFC Mansfield: White, Ludlow (Kitchen 45), Lamplough, Allott, Timons (c), Buxton, Williams, Naylor D, Rick (Wood 63), Mitchell (Wilson 80), Ghaichem.  Sub not used: Brewin

Rossington Main: Wildey, Farrar, Bathgate (Marquis 77), Johnson J, Woodhall, Holmes, Green, Hatton, Johnson C, Townsend, Stokes.  Subs not used: Cowe & Brennan.

Referee: Mr Wayne Cooper (S.Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Graham Taylor (Notts.) & Mr Tony Tierney (S.Yorks.)

Attendance: 75


Man of the Match: Grant Allott
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Saturday 25th April 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Pontefract Collieries 2 – 4 AFC Mansfield



The Bulls completed the double over promoted Pontefract with another disciplined performance.  Goals from Mark Ward, Dean Rick, Ryan Williams and Craig Mitchell did the damage with consolation goals for the home side coming from Nigel Danby and Matthew Marsden.

There were a few heavy showers before the kick-off but thankfully the rain cleared and it was a pleasant if not slightly cloudy day at The Urban Sports Stadium.

With the hosts still in with a chance of the league title a tough game was expected and tough it turned out to be.  AFC Mansfield had the better of the early exchanges, taking the game to Pontefract.

Joe Naylor saw his header from a Jimmy Ghaichem corner just clear the bar and a minute later Mark Ward tried his luck from just outside the box but Craig Parry had it covered.

It was then the home sides turn to threaten and Jason White got down well to deny Liam Radford’s crisp low drive on 14 minutes.  White was in action again saving from a Lee Bennett shot and then saving at the feet of the same player as the game reached the 25 minute mark.
Mark Ward fired straight at Parry on 31 minutes from a Joe Naylor pass, 2 minutes later he went one better after latching onto a Jimmy Ghaichem through ball the striker hit a dipping shot that flew over parry and into the top corner to open the scoring.  Unfortunately for Ward this signalled an end to his game limping off with a knee injury to be replaced by top scorer Dean Rick.

More good work in midfield from Joe Naylor and Ghaichem sending Rick clear, the strikers cross just eluding Mitchell and Williams on the far post.

5 minutes into the restart and Rick made his intentions clear when his 10 yard drive was saved point-blank by Parry.  When Joe Naylor was fouled just inside the Pontefract half a quickly taken free kick by Ghaichem found Rick who turned and shot in one movement finding the right hand corner of the net to double The Bulls lead.

Pontefract then reduced the arrears on 62 minutes when Nigel Danby rose above the pack to put a powerful header past White from a free kick on the right flank.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly dispelled by Ryan Williams.  In a move that Williams started in his own half the winger found Joe Naylor with a superb cross field ball.  Naylor progressed down the right before firing in a low cross which Mitchell stepped over wrong-footing the home defence and Williams who had made a 70 yard run hit the ball first time curling it past Parry and into the far corner of the net.

Joe Naylor went close again on 74 minutes his stinging shot from outside the box going inches wide with Parry fully stretched.

The Bulls got their 4th on 79 minutes, Rick raced down the right flank before planting his cross on the head of Craig Mitchell who headed past the keeper from 8 yards.

A Danny Naylor superb through ball found Mitchell who fired agonisingly wide on 81 minutes.

Pontefract got their second on 83 minutes, Matthew Marsden was allowed a second bite of the cherry by some slack defending and he gratefully accepted and placed the ball beyond White and into the net.

White had the final say getting down well to turn a 20 yard drive from Marsden around the post.
The Bulls finish the season with a home game against Rossington Main next Saturday.

Pontefract Collieries: Parry, Heeley, Corbett, Danby (c), Danville, Forgoine, Marsden, Bennett (Rouse 57), Radford, Moxam, Whitehouse.  Subs not used: Lindley & Robinson

AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Lamplough (Brewin 81), Allott, Timons (c ), Naylor J, Williams, Naylor D, Ward (Rick 33), Mitchell, Ghaichem.  Sub not used: Wood

Referee: Mr Paul Tomes (Sth Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Callum Gough (Sth Yorks.) &Will Cavanagh (Sth Yorks.)

Attendance: 95


Man of the Match: Joe Naylor

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Saturday 18th April 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 2 – 0 Penistone Church


Two 2nd half goals secured the points for The Bulls against fellow league debutants Penistone Church.

A strike from top goalscorer Dean Rick and a superbly hit free kick from Ryan Williams sealed the win for the Mansfield side.  Both players had been missing from the team for some time and marked their return in the best way possible.

The game started tentatively with the first real chance not coming until the 15th minute when Phil Buxton fired his effort high and wide from the edge of the box.

Dean Rick saw his header parried by keeper Joe Green and then collected before the striker could follow up.  At the other end Mark Crossfield header wide from a Duncan Richards free kick.

Rick shoots wide of the mark on the half hour mark and then 3 minutes later Andy Ring for the visitors saw his volley well saved by Jason White.

Ash Ellis then tested White, again the keeper well placed to collect the headed effort.  The  half finished goalless and both teams were evenly matched.

7 minutes into the restart and Jason White pulled off a superb one handed save to deny Crossfield.  This seemed to spark the home side into action and they took the lead 2 minutes later when Dean Rick fired past Green from a Ghaichem through ball to give The Bulls the lead.

Penistone were nearly level on 56 minutes when Grant Allott gave the ball away to Crossfield, the striker however dallied on the ball allowing Kitchen to get in a telling tackle and the danger was eventually cleared.

The Bulls were starting to get the game under control, Williams saw his effort turned around the post and from the resulting corner Grant Allott had a header blocked on the line with the follow up from Ash Kitchen shaving the crossbar.

Declan Brewin was fouled just outside the box on 75 minutes and Ryan Williams stepped up to take the free kick.  His low curling effort beat the fully stretched Joe Green and went in off the post to double the home sides lead.

Mark Ward produced some good footwork in the box to hold the ball up and then play a neat back heel to Williams who fired inches wide of the far post on 83 minutes.

Another good 3 points for The Bulls and sets them up for the midweek League Cup Semi-Final against Handsworth Parramore on Wednesday night at The Forest Town Arena.

AFC Mansfield: White, Ludlow, Wilson, Alott (c), Kitchen, Naylor D, Williams, Buxton, Naylor J (Mitchell 45), Rick (Brewin 66), Ghaichem (Ward 81).  Subs not used: Wood & Lamplough.
Man of the Match
Ash Kitchen

Penistone Church: Green, Jones, Young, Ellis, Whitehead, Lovett (c), Richards (Almond 82), Exley, Crossfield, Ring (Moore 82), Riley.  Subs not used: Lee & Briggs.

Referee: Mr Martin Chester (Lincs.)
Assistants: Mr Luke Lazenby (Sth Yorks.) & Mr John Stevens (Derbys.)

Attendance: 101


Man of the Match: Ash Kitchen


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Wednesday 15th April 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Dronfield Town 0 - 5 AFC Mansfield


AFC Mansfield made it 5 games unbeaten when they confidently put 5 goals past Dronfield Town without reply on Wednesday night.

Taking a two goal lead into the break with Declan Brewin and Joe Naylor finding the back of the net.  The Bulls then increased the scoreline in the 2nd half with a goal from captain Grant Allott and a brace from Mark Ward.

It was a quick turnaround for the hosts having played at home on Monday night against Selby and securing a 2-1 win.  This though was probably a game too far and they were outplayed throughout the 90 minutes.

In the opening minutes Joe Naylor squandered a glorious opportunity to put The Bulls ahead firing over the bar.  At the other end Ritchie Marples curled his effort wide of the far post from the edge of the box and Craig Mitchell failed by inches to get on the end of a Declan Brewin cross.

It was apparent that Brewin was going to cause Dronfield some problems with his pace and it was Brewin that opened the scoring on 14 minutes.  But not before Mitchell had hesitated in front of goal and Richard Henson had dived bravely at his feet to deny the striker.  It was Mitchell who turned provider, threading the ball through to Brewin who took a touch and then fired past the advancing Henson.

Joe Naylor was unlucky not to double the score on 18 minutes his header crashed against the bar and then unbelievably his follow up hit the post before being hacked away to safety.

It was Naylor who doubled the lead but not until the 40th minute when he rose in the box to head home a Brewin cross.

Mitchell fired over the bar on the hour mark as the visitors continued to dominate play.  Mitchell thought he had his goal on 70 minutes when he finished from close range after Mark Ward had rattled the post with a header and Jimmy Ghaichem had the follow up parried by Henson.  But luck wasn't with the striker and an assistants flag denied him.

Ward looked hungry for a goal and on 72 minutes saw a rasping drive turned around the post by Henson.  Mitchell was again denied by the keeper before Ward finally got the third getting the final touch in the six yard box from a Kyle Ludlow long throw.

The fourth goal came on 83 minutes when Grant Allott volleyed home from a Ghaichem corner that Henson only half cleared.

The home side were all at sea in the final minute when AFC Mansfield were awarded a free kick on the right flank.  While they were still arguing amongst themselves the kick was quickly taken and Ward rifled his low drive past Henson and into the corner of the net to complete the scoring.

Dronfield Town: Henson, Dickinson, Butler (c), Sezarano, Darlow, Morley, Bebbington, Jones, Mulgrew, Marples, Moverley Gray.  Subs not used: Savage & Horsfield

Man of the Match
Grant Allott
AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Dudley, Allott (c), Lamplough (Ludlow 45), Naylor D, Brewin, Buxton, Naylor J (Ward 65), Mitchell (Wood 75), Ghaichem.  Sub not used: Timons.

Referee: Mr Jamie Macleod (London)
Assistants: Mr Stephen Lazenby (South Yorkshire) & Mr Mehdi Najefi (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 56

Man of the Match: Grant Allott



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Saturday 11th April 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 2 – 2 Louth Town


A lapse in concentration 10 minutes from the end of this game cost The Bulls a home win at The Forest Town Arena on Saturday.  Substitute Dan Kilmore fired past Jason White to give ‘The White Wolves’ a share of the points.

AFC Mansfield were leading 2-1 with goals from Grant Allott and Joe Naylor after going behind to an early goal from Jack Wightwick.

The opening goal came on 8 minutes when Callum Hyland flicked on a long ball and Wightwick outpaced The Bulls central defenders to fire past Jason White from 12 yards.

Captain Grant Allott had the perfect opportunity to bring the scores level on 12 minutes but hoisted the ball over the bar from just 10 yards.

The home side continued to have more of the ball and were awarded an indirect free kick on 25 minutes when keeper Scott Drury picked up a back pass under pressure from Craig Mitchell.  The initial free-kick was blocked and also the follow up effort from Mitchell.

Mitchell wasted chances on the half hour mark and 35 minutes as AFC Mansfield continued to press for an equaliser.

Jason White was in action just before the break when Jordan Smith found himself in acres of space and looked well offside.  The wide player’s effort was well saved by White with no flag coming.

The 2nd half began with the home side again pushing for a leveller.  But things didn’t change until Declan Brewin was bought on for Mark Ward on the hour.  After just 2 minutes of being on the pitch Brewin headed home Jimmy Ghaichem’s cross only to be denied by the assistants flag.

The Bulls finally got their reward on 64 minutes when Captain Grant Allott headed home Ghaichem’s corner.

Joe Naylor should have put AFC Mansfield in front on 66 minutes when Mark Dudley’s low cross found him just 3 yards out.  Somehow the midfielder managed to slice his effort wide of the target.

At the other end Allott had to head off the line and then White made a point blank save from Luke Rayner-Mistry as the visitors reminded AFC that they were still a threat.

A superb jinking run from Ghaichem took him past four defenders and to the line where his low driven cross found Joe Naylor and this time he did not miss and The Bulls were in front.

Another cross from Ghaichem found the head of Brewin but the ball flew wide of the left hand post on 77 minutes.

The sucker punch came on 81 minutes when a lapse of concentration let in Dan Kilmore and the substitute fired a low drive past White to bring the sides level.

Declan Brewin thought he had won the game on 84 minutes, receiving the ball from Danny Naylor his fierce drive beat Drury in the Louth goal but cannoned off the post.

AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Dudley, Allott (c), Lamplough, Naylor D, Ward (Brewin 60), Buxton, Naylor J, Mitchell, Ghaichem.  Subs not used: Wood, Rick & Ludlow

Louth Town: Drury, Lowe, Lill (Rawlings 65), Stevens, Martin (c), Hyland, Smith (Kilmore 72), Andrews, Coulson, Wightwick, Rayner-Mistry.  Subs not used:  McSpadden, Armstrong & Aldrich.

Referee: Mr Matthew Tyers (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Mehdi Najefi (South Yorkshire)  & Mr Jack Fewster (South Yorkshire).

Attendance: 72


Man of the Match: Danny Naylor

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Wednesday 8th April 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East
League Challenge Cup
Quarter Final
Staveley Miners Welfare 0 – 1 AFC Mansfield


AFC Mansfield booked a place in the semi-finals of The NCEL Challenge Cup with a hard fought 1-0 victory against Staveley MW on Wednesday night.  A goal from Craig Mitchell 4 minutes into the 2nd half was all that separated these two sides.

The Bulls had a penalty shout turned down on 7 minutes when a defender took a wild swing at Joe Naylor, missed the ball and caught the midfielder across both shins in the box. 

A minute later Declan Brewin went close with a better first touch needed.

Sam Finlaw saw his long range effort go high and wide on 25 minutes and at the other end Danny Naylor fired his 20 yard effort over the bar after good work down the right flank from Brewin.

Staveley were awarded a penalty on 35 minutes after Jason White had brought down Kurtis Morley.  Jahmal Smith fired the spot kick wide of the keeper’s right hand post and the scores remained level.

Good approach work from Mitchell set up Joe Naylor who’s low drive seemed to get a touch off Hernandez but no corner given on 40 minutes.  A minute later Mark Dudley’s looping header was easily collected by Hernandez.

The Bulls went in front 4 minutes into the restart, Brewin played the ball forward to Mitchell who rode a strong challenge from a defender before racing clear.  Hernandez came out to close the angle but Mitchell fired a low drive into the back of the net.

Grant Allott went close 5 minutes later, picking up the loose ball from a Ghaichem corner he turned in the box but Hernandez did well to turn his effort over the bar.

Staveley had a good period of play around the 75 minute mark when they forced 3 corners in a row with Mark Dudley having to head one inswinging effort off the line.

Joe Naylor fired over the bar on 80 minutes after linking up well with Ghaichem and Ward on the right flank.  Mitchell and Chris Wood carved out a chance on 85 minutes, with Hernandez doing well to save at the feet of Wood.

A heart in the mouth moment in the dying minutes when a route one ball caught AFC Mansfield napping the ball eventually coming to Ellis Wall who’s goal bound header hit the top of the bar and went out for a goal kick.

The Bulls held on and thoroughly deserved their victory against Premier Division opposition, a sterner test awaits them in 2 weeks time when they take on Handsworth Parramore in the Semi-Final at The Forest Town Arena.
  
StaveleyMW: Hernandez, Watters, Magee (Poulton 45), Goodwin, Fisher, Pugh, Morley, Finlaw, Smith, Eagers, Wall.   Subs not used: Finnigan, Bates, Butt & Gamble.

AFC Mansfield: White, Ludlow (Ward 50), Dudley, Allott, Timons (c) (Lamplough 12), Naylor D, Brewin (Wood 79), Buxton, Naylor J, Mitchell, Ghaichem.  Sub not used: Wilson.

Referee: Mr Tim Walker (Derbys.)
Assistants: Mr David Webb (Derbys.) & Mr Clive Lawrence (Derbys.)

Attendance: 254


Man of the Match: Grant Allott


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Saturday 4th April 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Lincoln Moorlands Railway 0 – 4 AFC Mansfield



A comfortable victory for The Bulls against basement side Lincoln Moorlands as expected on Saturday.  Goals from Joe Naylor, Glyn Cotton and a brace from Craig Mitchell were only half of the story because it could so easily have been double figures.

AFC Mansfield were still without Ryan Williams and Ash Kitchen but in fairness did not need their strongest side in this game.

The Bulls had a couple of efforts go wide in the opening minutes as they pushed deep into Lincoln’s half.  On 14 minutes Grant Allott saw his header hooked of the line and 2 minutes later Captain Chris Timons saw his headed goal ruled out for a push on a defender.

Phil Buxton fired high and wide from 20 yards on 18 minutes as AFC Mansfield dominated the play.  The first goal came on 20 minutes, a Jimmy Ghaichem cross found the head of Craig Mitchell and the ball nestled into the right hand corner of the net.

The floodgates should have opened but they didn’t, time after time The Bulls were left frustrated in front of goal.

Allott headed home from another Ghaichem cross on 28 minutes only to see the flag go up for offside.

More chances went begging before Joe Naylor hit a rasping drive on the turn only to see Chris Stanley in the Lincoln goal make a superb fingertip save to push the ball onto the bar and away to safety on 43 minutes.

The pattern of play continued in the 2nd half and on 50 minutes Ghaichem was felled in the box.  Craig Mitchell stepped up for the spot kick but Stanley guessed correctly to deny the striker with another excellent save.

The visitors finally got their second goal, Timons flicked on a Ghaichem corner and Joe Naylor got the final touch in a goalmouth scramble.

The 3rd goal came 10 minutes later, another superb Ghaichem cross and an acrobatic bicycle kick volley from Mitchell left Stanley rooted to the spot as the ball hit the back of the net.

The Bulls had yet another goal disallowed on 78 minutes, Allott heading home from a Glyn Cotton free kick with an offside flag again denying the visitors.

The final goal came on 85 minutes and it was worth waiting for.  Ghaichem found Tristan Whitman on the right flank with a cross field pass.  The striker turned inside two defenders before feeding Glyn Cotton in the box.  Cotton then proceeded to lead the Lincoln defence a merry dance leaving 3 defenders sat on the ground before he sent Stanley the wrong way with a superb reverse chip to complete the scoring.

AFC Mansfield now head to Staveley in midweek to face Premier Division Staveley MW in the Quarter Final of the League Cup.

Lincoln Moorlands:  Stanley, Radford (Hyatt 80), Leeder, McGovern, Simpson, Hindmarsh, Gregory, Omelia, Parker, Schofield (Wilson M 12) , Reeve.

AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Dudley (Lamplough 64), Allott, Timons (c), Naylor D, Wood (Cotton 60), Buxton, Naylor J (Whitman 69), Mitchell, Ghaichem.  Subs not used: Brewin & Ward.

Referee: Mr Nick Cook (Lincs.)
Man of the Match - Jimmy Ghaichem
Assistants: Mr Andrew Farr (Lincs.) & Mr Andrew Pontin (Lincs.)

Attendance: 50


Man of the Match: Jimmy Ghaichem

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Saturday 28th March 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 4 – 1 Knaresborough Town


AFC Mansfield got back to winning ways with a confident 4-1 win over Knaresborough Town.  Goals from Jimmy Ghaichem, Joe Naylor, Craig Mitchell and Grant Allott did the damage with the visitors getting a consolation goal a few minutes from the end through a Colin Heath free kick.

The Bulls had the usual array of players missing through injury or illness Joe Lamplough, Ryan Williams, Ash Kitchen and Kyle Ludllow were all unavailable.

The home side started with a strong wind at their backs and were immediately on the offensive.  It was no surprise that they got an early breakthrough.  Jimmy Ghaichem hitting a curling 20 yard effort that flew into the top corner leaving Jack Rushworth rooted to the spot.  It was no more than the tricky winger deserved his clever footwork tormented the Knaresborough defense throughout the game and deservedly secured the Man of the Match award.

The perceived floodgates did not open for the home side as their possession should have warranted.  Buxton had the ball in the back of the net on the half hour mark but was disallowed for offside and then 5 minutes later Rushworth superbly saved the midfielders edge of the box drive to keep the advantage down to a solitary goal.

Many thought that Knaresborough would mount an assault on the AFC Mansfield goal in the 2nd half, aided by the strong wind at their backs.  This however did not come to pass,  The Bulls doubled their lead 3 minutes into the re-start when Joe Naylor rose above the pack to head home a Mark Dudley cross.

Craig Mitchell hit a low drive from the edge of the box that beat a fully stretched Rushworth on 68 minutes to make it 3-0.

A rare chance fell to substitute Colin Heath on 73 minutes but the striker fired wide of the mark from 15 yards.

Declan Brewin saw his effort hooked off the line and Joe Naylor’s follow up crashed against the bar 10 minutes from the end.

Not for the first time Ghaichem was upended just outside the box on 81 minutes.  He then delivered an inch perfect cross for Grant Allott to power his header past Rushworth to make it 4-0.

Colin Heath made amends for his earlier miss when on 87 minutes he curled a 20 yard free kick into the top right hand corner of the net to complete the scoring.

The Bulls will be on their travels next Saturday when they go to Lincoln Moorlands and will be hoping to continue their winning ways.

AFC Mansfield: White, Hannigan (Cotton 67), Dudley, Allott, Timons (c), Buxton, Whitman (Brewin 71), Naylor D, Naylor J, Mitchell (Wood 75), Ghaichem.  Subs not used: Wilson & Ward.

Knaresborough Town: Rushworth, Parkes, Littlefair, Duerden, Radcliffe, Bradley, Walker, Wilson, Hamilton (Lancaster 71, Atkinson (Heath 65), Whitehead.  Sub not used: Gray
Man of the Match

Referee: Mr Andrew Price (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Steve Clarkson (Sth Yorks.) & Mr Neil Allsop (Notts.)

Attendance: 82


Man of the Match: Jimmy Ghaichem




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Saturday 21st March 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Hemsworth MW 2 – 1 AFC Mansfield


AFC Mansfield suffered their 3rd successive league defeat at promotion hopefuls Hemsworth Miners Welfare on Saturday.  Without injured Ryan Williams and Ash Kitchen and captain Chris Timons serving a one match ban Manager Rudi Funk had some changes to make.  Into the side came U21 players Brad Wilson and Declan Brewin along with Tommy Hannigan who was returning from injury.

Once again The Bulls had the majority of play in the game and once again they came up against a tough defensive outfit.  The Bulls need to learn how to convert possession into goals.

The first effort of the game came on 7 minutes, Glyn Cotton firing a 25 yard effort well wide of the mark.  Joe Naylor did the same on 18 minutes, again not testing the home keeper.

Tommy Hannigan went closer on 22 minutes his flicked header from a Cotton free-kick shaved the bottom of the right hand post.

AFC Mansfield looked most likely to score and Jimmy Ghaichem had his effort turned around the post after a flick on from Craig Mitchell on 26 minutes.

It was a fiercely competitive game with both sets of players getting stuck in, but play continued in the same vein with The Bulls having the chances and wasting them at regular intervals.

Joe Naylor turned neatly in the box on 43 minutes from a Cotton through ball but again his low drive went narrowly wide.

Hemsworth looked brighter at the start of the 2nd half, an in swinging corner from Adam Wilson saw it cannon back off the crossbar before being cleared up field.

Both teams made changes on 70 minutes but it was the home sides substitution that made the difference.  Dominic Blair firing home on 75 minutes after indecision between White and Wilson at the back for AFC Mansfield had allowed Nick Guest to square the ball for the youngster.

The Bulls continued to look the better side, Joe Naylor had his header saved superbly by Bentley from a Ghaichem cross on 82 minutes.

The visitors were hit with a sucker punch 2 minutes from time, pushing for an equaliser they were caught on the break when a Dudley corner was cleared up field and Blair confidently lifted his effort over White to double his tally.

The goal that AFC Mansfield were desperately searching for came a minute later, Danny Naylor finding Tristan Whitman in the box and the striker finished from close range.

The Bulls pushed until the final whistle, Joe Naylor having two efforts turned over the bar for corners.  But it wasn’t to be and once again missed chances have cost AFC Mansfield as the season is beginning to fizzle out.

Rudi Funk takes his side to Retford on Tuesday night for a friendly and hopefully they can iron out some of the problems in front of goal.

Joe Naylor
Man of the Match
Hemsworth MW: Bentley, Tonks, Clark (Viggars 85), Swift, Colbear, Steers, Connolly (Pugh 89), Yates, Guest, Crapper (Blair 70), Wilson A.  Subs not used: Haywood & Dixon

AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Dudley, Hannigan, Allott (c), Naylor J, Brewin (Naylor D 77), Cotton, Wood (Whitman 70), Mitchell, Ghaichem.  Subs not used: Ward, Buxton & Lamplough.

Referee: Mr Paul Tomes (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Stephen Lazenby & Mr Luke Lazenby

Attendance: 112


Man of the Match: Joe Naylor

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Saturday 14th March 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 1 – 2 Clipstone


In truth neither side deserved anything from this game as they served up a feast of non football for the 176 in the crowd.  But it was Clipstone, courtesy of goals from Richard Mintoft and Rob Paling that took the points.  Tristan Whitman did pull a goal back for AFC Mansfield and also had an equaliser chalked off for an offside.

The Bulls had the first chance of the game when Grant Allott put his 10 yard header over the bar on 3 minutes. A minute later a great run by Matt Ord down the left forced a corner.  Paling delivered to the far post and Mintoft looped a header back across goal and into the right hand corner to open the scoring.

Unfortunately for the crowd that was as good as it got in the 1st half.  AFC Mansfield had plenty of possession but did nothing with it and Clipstone looked dangerous down the left with Ord’s runs.

Two injuries forced both sides into changes in the 1st half.  Dan Wood came out worst in a 50/50 challenge with Mark Dudley.  Wood had to be stretchered from the field to be replaced by Levi Walker.

On 42 minutes Bulls winger Ryan Williams felt the full weight of keeper Nick Siddons on his foot after chasing a loose ball in the box.  Williams was replaced by Tristan Whitman after being carried from the field.

The 2nd half served up the same unedifying fodder as the first.  Again the lion’s share of possession fell to The Bulls but they did little with it.

A rare error from keeper Jason White which just about summed up the day on 75 minutes when attempting to clear the ball he only managed to find the feet of Rob Paling.  Paling went past White on the edge of the box and rolled the ball into an empty net to double the advantage.

Two minutes later and AFC Mansfield pulled a goal back; Tristan Whitman volleying home from 8 yards from a Mitchell lay off.

Whitman had the ball in the back of the net again a few minutes later but was denied by a linesman’s flag and the final effort came from Danny Naylor who hit a 30 yard drive which Siddons held comfortably.

It was not much of an advert for local football but Clipstone took another ugly 3 points on their way to the league title.  AFC Mansfield have 8 games left to secure a top six finish in their first year at step 6.  They will have to improve drastically on today’s showing.

AFC Mansfield: White, Kitchen, Dudley, Allott, Timons (c), Naylor D, Ghaichem (Wood C 84), Cotton, Lamplough (Naylor J 62), Mitchell, Williams (Whitman 42).  Subs not used: Buxton & Ward.

Clipstone: Siddons, Shaw, Paling, Baugh, Mintoft (c), Hill, Wood D (Walker 25), Austin, Gibson, Brown, Ord.  Subs not used: White D, Whitehead, Carrig & Owen

Referee: Mr David Evans (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Charles Cresswell-Hibbert & Mr Glyn Kissane

Attendance: 176


Man of the Match: AFC Mansfield – Mark Dudley, Clipstone – Richard Mintoft

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Tuesday 10th March 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League 
Division One
Hallam 3 - 2 AFC Mansfield


AFC Mansfield threw away any chance of promotion with a lacklustre performance against a battling Hallam side on Tuesday night.

It is always difficult for away sides at Hallam with the pronounced slope and so it proved for The Bulls.  With the lions share of possession and looking the most likely to score in the opening 20 minutes the visitors were rocked by 2 goals in a five minute spell.

Goalscorer Michael Blythen got the final touch in the box for the first goal on 20 minutes after Jason White had pushed Simon Mirfin's header onto the bar.  In the ensuing scramble Blythen got the decisive touch to open the scoring.

The 2nd came 3 minutes later when Blythen was allowed time to drive the ball low past an outstretched White to double Hallam's lead.

AFC Mansfield were now chasing the game and to their credit they pulled a goal back just before half time.  Jimmy Ghaichem volleyed home after some sustained pressure on the Hallam goal.

Kicking down the slope and it was all AFC Mansfield but the tactics of hoofing the ball into the Hallam box at every opportunity was bread and butter to the hard working defence.

Tackles became wilder and eventually centre half Jack Hall made two that stood out and received a yellow for both reducing The Countrymen to 10 men.

Five minutes from the end AFC were back on level terms, a rare moment of passing football and a good delivery into the box found Tristan Whitman who's deft header beat an impressive Jack Dennison in the Hallam goal.

But it really wasn't The Bulls night and with very little time left Danny Flynn received the ball on the left cut inside firing a low drive that squirmed past White on his near post and the points went Hallam's way.

AFC Mansfield: White, Kitchen, Dudley, Allott, Timons (Whitman 75), Naylor D, Ghaichem, Cotton (Buxton 75), Wood (Ward 80), Mitchell, Williams.  Subs not used: Wilson & Hassan

Referee: Mr Ricky Taylor (South Yorkshire)

Man of the Match: Jason White - AFC Mansfield & Jack Dennison - Hallam.
**************************************
Saturday 7th March 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Bottesford Town 1 – 1 AFC Mansfield
The Bulls had to settle for a point away at Bottesford on Saturday.  Having dominated the game for long periods they lost ground in the promotion race dropping to 5th in the table.

The visitors were without Grant Allott, Ryan Williams and Joe Naylor but all three will be available for the trip to Hallam on Tuesday.

It was the home side that had the first chance on goal after just 3 minutes when Dan Boulton headed well wide from a Craig Bridge cross.

It wasn’t until the 30th minute that the next serious attempt at goal came when Craig Mitchell was denied by Leigh Herrick in the home goal.  Herrick got down well to Mitchell’s low drive after a clever flick on from Chris Wood had sent the striker clear.

A minute later a big shout for handball by Lee Ridley at the back for Bottesford was waved away by the referee.  Ridley then did well to cut out a Wood cross to an unmarked Mitchell 8 yards out.

The second half was only 2 minutes old when AFC Mansfield took the lead.  A corner from the right was headed down by Chris Timons and the ball eventually fell to the feet of Ash Kitchen who drilled the ball through Herrick’s legs to give The Bulls the lead.

The visitors should have increased their lead as several chances went begging in the next 15 minutes.  However, AFC Mansfield were dealt the first of two blows on 72 minutes.  Captain Chris Timons was dismissed for a 2nd yellow card and The Bulls were now on the back foot.
The second blow came on 85 minutes when the home side equalised with a header from Lee Ridley. 

The Bulls had one final chance to take the points when Declan Brewin broke into the box, he squared the ball to Mitchell who would have had the simplest of finishes but Ridley superbly slid in to knock the ball behind for a corner and save a point for his side.

AFC Mansfield have to dust themselves down and go again on Tuesday night when they visit Hallam.

Bottesford Town: Herrick, Gibbons, Smith (Thompson 78), Ridley, Johnson, Barwick, Pembleton, McDonald, Boulton, Bridge, Graves.  Subs not used: Kirk, Robinson, Snow & Harle.

AFC Mansfield: White, Kitchen, Dudley, Lamplough, Timons (c), Naylor D, Buxton (Wilson 74), Cotton, Wood (Brewin 81), Mitchell, Ghaichem.  Subs not used: Ward, Whitman & Vilums.

Referee: Mr Danny Jarvis (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Steve Beresford & Mr James Fox

Man of the Match: Ash Kitchen


Attendance: 85

*************************************************
Saturday 28th February 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 5 – 0 Grimsby Borough


The Bulls completed the double over visitors Grimsby Borough in emphatic style.  Goals from debutants Joe Lamplough and Chris Wood were complimented by a double from man of the match Glyn Cotton and probably the goal of the game from Tristan Whitman.

New signings Lamplough Wood and Grant Allott all started and made promising starts for The Bulls.  Wood showed his ability in the opening 5 minutes with some good touches.

The other two debutants combined for the first goal on 10 minutes.  A long throw from Ash Kitchen was headed on by Allott, the ball was only half cleared.  This allowed Lamplough to direct a looping header over two defenders and the keeper with the ball hitting the underside of the bar before going in.

The floodgates were expected to open against bottom club Grimsby, but this didn't happen.  In a frustrating first half the home side had numerous chances to extend their lead but didn't take them.

Gareth Johnson did well on 18 minutes to deny Chris Wood after the striker had got on the end of a Jimmy Ghaichem cross.

Phil Buxton thought he had doubled the score on 26 minutes when he hit a 20 yard volley that beat the keeper but crashed against the post before being hooked away by Tom King.  Buxton went close again on 34 minutes but this time fired wide of the mark from the edge of the box.

Johnson was again the hero on 37 minutes turning Cotton’s low 25 yard drive around the post for a corner.  Just before the break Grant Allott hit another low drive from the edge of the box that whizzed past the right hand post.

Woods and Mitchell both went close in the opening minutes of the 2nd half as The Bulls dominated proceedings.

The home side eventually got their second goal on 62 minutes.  Craig Mitchell was upended 20 yards out and Cotton stepped up to drill the free kick low and into the bottom left hand corner.

Cotton curled another free kick around the wall on 70 minutes, with Johnson well beaten the keeper was happy to see the ball crash against the post.

It was 3-0 on 76 minutes, a poor back pass left Johnson stranded as Chris Wood was quickest to react rounding the keeper before firing past King on the line.

Cotton got his second on 83 minutes firing home from 12 yards after being set up by Tristan Whitman.  2 minutes later Cotton turned provider passing to Whitman in the box.  The striker wriggled past 2 defenders before blasting his 15 yard effort past Johnson to complete the scoring.

Another fine display by The Bulls that lifts them up to 3rd place and the promotion chase is well and truly on.  They will be hoping to take this form into nest week’s away trip to Bottesford Town.

AFC Mansfield: White, Kitchen, Dudley (Whitman 78), Allott, Timons (C), Lamplough (Naylor D 65), Buxton, Cotton, Wood, Mitchell (Ward 80), Ghaichem.  Subs not used: Brewin & Wilson B

Grimsby Borough: Johnson, King, Wilson L, Hall, Unsworth (C), Bensley, Fuller J, Wood D (Sparrow 75), Flint (Blendell 75), Waugh, Fuller P.  Subs not used: Allenby

Referee: Mr Josh Bramhall (Sth Yorks.)
Man of the Match
GLYN COTTON
Assistants: Mr Jerzy Banasik (Lincs.) & Mr William Murray (Lincs.)

Attendance: 71


Man of the Match: Glyn Cotton


*******************************************************************
Saturday 21st February 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Emley 1 – 1 AFC Mansfield


This was a result that suited neither side as both lost ground in the promotion push.  The Bulls were without Ryan Williams who was starting a 3 match ban and top scorer Dean Rick due to work commitments.

The home side began the game kicking down the slope and with the wind at their backs and it didn’t take long for that advantage to show.  On 9 minutes a half cleared ball fell to Max Leonard 20 yards out, his low drive beat an outstretched Jason White and nestled in the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Craig Mitchell had a chance to get The Bulls level on 15 minutes but fired his effort high over the bar.

White was in action on 27 minutes, turning Leonards 15 yard effort around the post.

The last chance of a fairly even first half fell to Tommy Hannigan who’s volley from the edge of the box looped just over the bar.

With the advantage reversed AFC Mansfield began to pile on the pressure in the second half and it was only going to be a matter of time before they scored.

On 57 minutes a Jimmy Ghaichem cross found Mark Ward on the back post.  The striker turned his man only to see his goal bound effort turned around the post by Sam Jerome.

The equaliser came on 63 minutes, a short back pass was pounced on by Craig Mitchell and he drilled the ball past the stranded Adam Lawlor from 12 yards.

Mitchell had the ball in the back of the net 10 minutes later but the goal was chalked off for an infringement back on the half way line.

Declan Brewin was sent clear by Mitchel on 75 minutes and with just the keeper to beat fired over from the edge of the box.  It really was all AFC Mansfield now and cross after cross was delivered into the home box.

Ash Kitchen’s long throw skill was also utilised and the Emley defence took a pounding.  But, a combination of brave keeping from Lawlor and some superb defending from captain Paul Sykes kept The Bulls at bay.

Glyn Cotton thought he had made the break through on 78 minutes.  Sent clear by Brewin his low drive was superbly forced around the post by Lawlor.

Joe Naylor fired wide on 80 minutes from another corner that was half cleared.  The referee found more added minutes that were comfortable for the home side but they held on and took a share of the points.

AFC Emley: Lawlor, Ingham, Starkey, Leech, Jerome S, Sykes (C), Townend, Leonard, Kenworthy (Flynn 74), Tunnacliffe (Podmore 74), Jerome R.  Subs not used:Brook & Brown

AFC Mansfield: White, Hannigan (Wilson 45), Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (C), Naylor J, Naylor D, Cotton (Buxton 83), Ward (Brewin 74), Mitchell, Ghaichem.  Subs not used: Whitman & Vilums.

Referee: Mr Ian Thornton (west Yorkshire).
Man of the Match
Assistants: Mr Paul Saunders (Sth Yorks.) & Mr Tony Clubb (Sth Yorks.)

Man of the Match: Craig Mitchell

Attendance: 150



******************************************
Saturday 14th February 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One
AFC Mansfield 3 – 0 Yorkshire Amateur

The Bulls continued their push up the table with a comfortable 3-0 win against Yorkshire Amateur at The Forest Town Arena.  The goals came from Glyn Cotton, Craig Mitchell and Tristan Whitman.  The visitor’s woes were further compounded when Chris Hitchin was dismissed late on and manager Richard Addy removed from the dugout.


AFC Mansfield were feeling the effects of a busy programme and watching from the side lines were injured Jimmy Ghaichem, Tommy Hannigan, Mark Dudley and Dean Rick, while Craig Mitchell made his return from injury on the bench.

The Bulls got off to the perfect start after just 4 minutes with a Glyn Cotton 25 yard free kick.  Keeper Suwara Bojang got a hand to the low drive to push it onto the post, unfortunately the ball came back hitting the keeper and ended up in the goal.


That was probably the highlight of the half apart from Chris Hitchins high tackle on Cotton that could so easily have been a straight red instead of the yellow card given.

Hitchins did try his luck with a 30 yard free kick on 18 minutes the ball fizzing past Jason whites right hand post.

The 2nd half started in much the same vein and it looked as if the game would finish with just a solitary goal.  But the home side brought on Mitchell after 65 minutes and within 10 minutes of coming on he had doubled their lead.  The ball delivered into the box by Declan Brewin with Mitchell’s first effort blocked by Shane Harding only to get a second bite of the cherry and the striker drove the ball home from 10 yards.



The third goal came 4 minutes later, Whitman making a run down the right flank, he then  turned his marker sent another defender the wrong way and rifled the ball past Bojang on his near post from 12 yards.


It got worse for the visitors, reduced to 10 men on 80 minutes when Hitchin received his second yellow for dissent.

Declan Brewin could have increased the lead on 84 minutes, racing past 2 defenders before seeing his effort turned around the post by Bojang.  The youngster then headed wide from a Brad Wilson cross on 88 minutes.

The final chance of the game fell to Tristan Whitman, his curling effort from the edge of the box was saved by Bojang at full stretch.

AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Ludlow (Brewin 74), Kitchen, Timons, Naylor D, Buxton, Cotton, Ward (Mitchell 69), Whitman, Williams (Vilums 80).  Subs not used: Tighe & Naylor J

Yorkshire Amateur: Bojang, Wadsworth, Harding, Rose, Freeman (c), Hitchin, Marsden, Blakey, Hughes, Heard Craig, Shaw.  Subs: Donaldson, Heard Carl, Hammond.

Man of the Match
Brad Wilson
Referee: Mr Daniel McGinley
Assistants: Mr Carl Jones & Mr Tony Tierney

Man of the Match: Brad Wilson


Attendance: 69


***********************************
Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division 1
Wednesday 11th February 2015
AFC Mansfield 2 Worsborough Bridge Athletic
1



On a night when a number of chances went begging AFC Mansfield continued to apply the pressure on the top four in the league.


The game started at pace with AFC Mansfield having the first chance within the first minute with a shot from inside the box forcing a save from the Worsbrough keeping conceding a corner, from which Tommy Hannigan heads over the bar.



AFC Mansfield continued the pressure up until the 11th minute when Worsbrough had there first real venture up field and scored the opening goal of the evening through central defender Declan Lycett, following a scramble in the box from a corner which AFC Mansfield were unable to clear.



AFC Mansfield went straight back on the attack in search of an equaliser through Dean Rick who fired wide of the near post after good work from Ryan Williams.  The next 10 minutes produced further pressure from AFC Mansfield with various changes going begging.



Then in the 33rd Minute Ryan Williams plays a ball over the Worsbrough Bridge defence into the path of debutant Mark Ward who fires his effort over the bar.  The next attack came from a long throw from Ash Kitchen from the right hand side into the middle of the penalty box, with bodies everywhere Dean Rick is unable to get his shot away and the pressure is defused by Worsbrough.



The first half ends with AFC Mansfield on the attack with a number of corners, but no finish is forthcoming and we head to the dressing rooms with Worsbrough leading by a goal to nil in a half which has seen nearly all the chances fall to AFC Mansfield.



The second half starts in much the same way as the first half ended with a number of corners for AFC Mansfield.  Then in the 53rd minute just as the AFC Mansfield fans were starting to think that it was going to one of them nights, a corner from the right from Ryan Williams looks to be drifting out, until Dean Rick heads the ball back across the goal and the linesman judges the ball to have crossed the line.  AFC Mansfield back on level terms to the displeasure of the Worsbrough Bridge players who did not believe the ball had crossed the line.



The game went through a period of midfield domination until in the 65th minute Brad Wilson crossed the ball from the right hand side, the ball was flicked on by Dean Rick into the path of Ryan Williams who struck with his left foot from just inside the penalty area.  AFC Mansfield now 2 1 ahead and looking good for continuing their good league form.



The next chance coming to AFC Mansfield in the 79th minute after a good work down the right as Mark Ward back heals the ball into the path of Declan Brewin who finds Ryan Williams who fires the ball against the crossbar and the balls goes out for a goal kick.



Worsbrough Bridge go looking for the equalising goal and win a corner in the 84th minute which is cleared away by Chris Timons. This follows a number of long balls for Brad Kerr to run on to which were cleared by Jason White or dealt with by the AFC Mansfield defence.



The referee indicated 4 minutes additional time in which a long ball over the top for Brad Kerr was the only incident which Jason White came off his line quickly to clear.



That makes it 5 straight wins for the Bulls in the league.  The promotion push definitely seems to be on the cards.  The Bulls move on to Yorkshire Amateurs at the Forest Town Arena on Saturday afternoon with a 3 pm kick off.



Man of the Match : Danny Naylor



Attendance: 74



AFC Mansfield: White, Hannigan ( Tighe),Dudley (Wilson), Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor D, Vilums (Brewin), Naylor J, Rick, Ward, Williams R.  Unused subs Buxton, Whitman.
**************************************************
Tuesday 3rd February 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Shirebrook Town 2 – 3 AFC Mansfield

The bumper 348 crowd who braved a very cold night were treated to another rip roaring local derby.  Both teams needed the points to continue their promotion push.

AFC Mansfield had two debutants starting, Jimmy Ghaichem signed from Scarborough Athletic and Tommy Hannigan from Rainworth MW.  Shirebrook started with a more settled side after last week’s 5-0 win at Bottesford Town.

It was the visitors who started the better of the two sides, taking the game to Shirebrook with ex Shirebrook midfielder Joe Naylor firing over the bar on 3 minutes.

Another good move on 9 minutes saw Declan Brewin feed Ryan Williams on the right flank.  The wingers cross found Craig Mitchell but the striker lifted his effort high and wide.

The Bulls took the lead on 12 minutes, more pressure on the home goal and when the ball was only half cleared by Dale Sheppard and it dropped to Tommy Hannigan who drove home from 12 yards.  This sparked wild celebrations within the AFC supporters and a red smoke bomb was let off something not usually seen in local non-league football.


The other debutant Jimmy Ghaichem thought he had scored as well on 22 minutes.  Receiving a knock down from Mitchell his low drive had Sheppard stretching to turn it around the post.

A bizzare turn of events around the half hour mark when the game was halted by referee Lee Freeman due to an injury he had sustained.  The man in the middle swapped places with assistant Mehdi Najefi and the game got back underway.  Freeman was replaced for the 2nd half on the line by local official Jamie O’Connor.

Shirebrook must have thought they were about to equalise on 36 minutes when Jamie York went down in the box from a challenge by Ash Kitchen.  Kieren Watson stepped up and drove the ball to Jason Whites right.  The keeper blocked Watson’s initial kick and then quickly got back to his feet to block the follow up from Watson.

White was in action again on 40 minutes with a fingertip save over the bar from Liam Morris.  It was a good passage of play for the home side and they equalised through Watson on 41 minutes.  The striker pounced on a deflection when AFC failed to clear their lines to fire home from 8 yards.

Shirebrook then took the lead when a Liam Morris raced onto a through ball to shoot past White from 12 yards on 44 minutes.

Late goals against Shirebrook are The Bulls raison d'etre and rising talent Declan Brewin pulled the ball back for Craig Mitchell 30 seconds before the half time whistle and the ball hitting the back of the net was inevitable.

Both sides battled against a difficult and freezing by the minute surface to entertain the crowd in the 2nd half.  Mitchell had the chance to put The Bulls in front on 56 minutes.  The striker getting on the end of a Ryan Williams cross only to see Sheppard turn it behind for a corner.

Joe Naylor tried his luck from 20 yards on 72 minutes but Sheppard was equal to it and the game had a draw written all over it.

But we had forgotten AFC Mansfield’s love of late goals and with just 3 minutes to go of normal time Glyn Cotton produced a finish worthy of winning any game.  His curling 25 yard free kick had ex Bulls keeper Dale Sheppard at full stretch but still found the top corner of the net.

The referee then inexplicably found 12 minutes of added time but The Bulls stood firm to take the points and moved up to 4th in the league.

Shirebrook Town: Sheppard, Hanson (c), Dawson (Chambers 35), Nelthorpe, Plant, Campion, York (Shepperd 78), Barnett (Getliff 78), Morris, Dennis, Watson.  Subs not used: Cook & Green.

AFC Mansfield: White, Hannigan, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (C) (Ludlow 45), Naylor J, Williams R, Cotton, Brewin, Mitchell (Naylor D 64), Ghaichem (Buxton 70).  Subs not used: Rick & Whitman.

Referee: Mr Lee Freeman (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Mehdi Najefi (South Yorkshire) & Mr Neil Allsop (Nottinghamshire)

Man of the Match: Shirebrook – Gareth Campion, AFC Mansfield – Declan Brewin


Attendance: 348

**********************************
Saturday 31st January 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 4 – 1 Teversal

A bumper crowd watched this game of two halves at The Forest Town Arena.  Teversal went in at the break 1-0 up courtesy of an Aiden Harris volley.  But AFC Mansfield dominated the 2nd half and won with goals from Chris Timons, Ryan Williams, Mark Dudley and an own goal from Luke Pickering.

The game started at a frenetic pace and the visitors had the ball in the back of the net on 7 minutes only to see the offside flag raised.  At the other end Ryan Williams fired wide from a tight angle.

Teversal were hustling and harrying the home side all over the park and making life difficult for The Bulls.  They did, however, have the ball in the back of the net on 26 minutes.  Ryan Brooks parried a Craig Mitchell strike and when Tristan Whitman fired home the loose ball AFC thought they had gone in front only to see the flag raised again to keep the scores level.

Teversal were rewarded for all their hard work on 39 minutes.  Pickering’s stinging drive was saved by Jason White but Aiden Harris was on hand to volley home the loose ball from 12 yards.

Bulls manager Rudy Funk made two changes at the break taking off Phil Buxton and Tristan Whitman and bringing on Joe Naylor and Declan Brewin.  This had an immediate effect when Joe Naylor fired over the bar on 46 minutes.  The pressure continued and Mark Dudley put his effort wide from 12 yards.

Joe Naylor then hit the side netting on 56 minutes and Craig Mitchell headed wide 2 minutes later.  The equaliser came on 65 minutes from an Ash Kitchen long throw which captain Chris Timons flicked past Brooks from 5 yards.

Ryan Williams saw his 25 yard effort shave the post on 72 minutes and a minute later Teversal saw another goal chalked off for offside when Sean Dickinson rounded White to finish from 8 yards.

2 minutes later and more disappointment for Teversal when Luke Pickering headed past his own keeper to give AFC Mansfield the lead.

Ryan Williams then made it 3 on 84 minutes firing home from 7 yards after Brad Wilson and Declan Brewin had linked up well down the right flank.

The scoring was complete on 87 minutes when a Williams corner half cleared found Mark Dudley on the far post and the defender bundled the ball home from 2 yards.

AFC Mansfield now head into another local derby on Tuesday night when they make the short trip to Shirebrook Town. 

AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Dudley, Kitchen (Tighe 80), Timons (C), Naylor D, Williams R, Buxton (Naylor J 45), Whitman (Brewin 45), Mitchell, Cotton.  Subs not used: Vilums & Rick.

Teversal: Brooks, Robinson, Harris (Taylor 52), Pickering, McGurk (C), Goodacre, Dickinson (Weaver 78), Langley, Brentnall (Tobin 68), Birch, Cox.  Subs not used: Bates & Newton.

Referee: Mr Lee Hible (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Jerzy Banasik (Lincs.) & Miss Elinor Blanchard (Lincs.)

Man of the Match:  AFC Mansfield – Brad Wilson, Teversal – Toby Birch


Attendance: 220

*******************************
Tuesday 27th January 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
League Challenge Cup 4th Round
Glasshoughton Welfare 0 - 2 AFC Mansfield

The Bulls produced another dominant display to progress to the Quarter Finals of the League Cup at Glasshoughton.  Second half goals from Top scorer Dean Rick and goal a game Craig Mitchell sucured their passage.

Manager Rudy Funk made 6 changes to the FA Vase winning side and it worked perfectly. With 4 of the U21 team in the squad the team started very lively indeed.  Although the less than perfect playing surface made it difficult for both sides.

In fact AFC's first real chance didn't come until the 25th minute.  A long Ash Kitchen throw was only half cleared with the ball dropping to Phil Buxton.  He hit a 20 yard effort that just dipped over the bar.

The Bulls went close again 10 minutes later, Brad Wilson released Declan Brewin down the right flank.  Brewin raced past 3 defenders getting round the back, his layoff was blocked the ball came back to him and he unleashed a vicious effort that Archer in the home goal did well to turn around the post.


Glasshoughton enjoyed a moment of ascendancy at the start of the second half kicking down the slight slope. But it was short lived and AFC Mansfield began to take control.

On 59 minutes Brewing burst into the box past 2 defenders his rasping drive hit the underside of the bar and bounced down onto the line before being hooked away.

The Bulls went in front 2 minutes later a Danny Naylor through ball found Dean Rick who took a touch before firing past Archer from 12 yards.

Brewin was back to terrorising the Glasshoughton defense on 68 minutes, past 2 defenders and into the box before pulling the ball back to Craig Mitchell who fired narrowly over the bar.

10 minutes later and it was all over, a superb threaded pass from Phil Buxton found Craig Mitchell who steadied himself in the box before firing past the advancing Archer.


A sign of the AFC dominance was when Glasshoughton were awarded their first corner on 82 minutes and Chris Martin made his first real save on 89 minutes.

Glasshoughton Welfare: Archer, Mottley-Henry, Morley, Dyson, Wlsh, Snaith, Horton, Leach (Pollock 62), Kellet L (Hurst 62) , Kellet B (c), Prudoe.  Subs not used: 

DECLAN BREWIN
Man of the Match
AFC Mansfield: Martin, Wilson, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor D, Vilums (Tighe 78), Buxton, Rick (Mitchell 68), Whitman (Williams D 62), Brewin.  Subs not used: Williams R & Cotton.

Referee: Mr Nicholas Hawksby (N Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr G Haycock (W Yorks.) & Mr S Littlewood (N Yorks.)

Man of the Match: Declan Brewin

Attendance: 42


**************************
Saturday 24th January 2015
The FA Vase 4th Round
Chadderton 0 – 5 AFC Mansfield


AFC Mansfield moved into the last 16 of The FA Vase in emphatic style putting 5 past hosts Chadderton FC without reply.  Goals from Chris Timons, Ryan Williams, Jordan Vilums and a brace from Craig Mitchell did the damage.



It was Chadderton’s biggest crowd of the season and was bolstered by a great many travelling AFC fans.  The Bulls were without top scorer Dean Rick and influential midfielder Danny Naylor so Manager Rudy Funk bought youngsters Brad Wilson and Danny Williams into the squad.

The opening 10 minutes saw both sides feeling their way a little, but the first warning of problems to come arrived on 14 minutes when AFC Mansfield's Craig Mitchell netted from a flick on, only to be flagged offside.  However, Chadderton's respite was only temporary as the visitors took the lead two minutes later with a well worked goal. Ryan Williams delivered a corner into the near post from the left and AFC Mansfield skipper Chris Timons timed a late run perfectly to get in front of the Chadderton defense and glance a header into the top corner of the net at the near post.

Daniel Murray fired wide from 20 yards on 20 minutes as the home side looked to get back into the game.  The Bulls doubled their lead on 34 minutes when Craig Mitchell threaded the ball through to Ryan Williams.  Williams flicked the ball over the onrushing Dale Latham before rounding him and firing home from 10 yards.

Chadderton missed a great chance to get back into the game on 36 minutes when a John Rogers' header from a corner was cleared off the line by Kyle Ludlow.  Two minutes later Dan O'Connor was unlucky when he picked up the ball in midfield and as the defenders backed off he unleashed a cracking 30 yarder that AFC Mansfield keeper Jason White tipped onto the crossbar.

The home side came at The Bulls in the opening 10 minutes with Adam Whitehead going close with a free kick, James Curley’s effort turned around the post by White and Dan Murray’s header blocked by Mark Dudley.  

Unfortunately this left the home side open to the counter attack and this was demonstrated perfectly on 58 minutes.  Joe Naylor’s 40 yard cross field ball found Ryan Williams on the left flank.  Williams delivered a first time cross into the path of Craig Mitchell who smashed his volley past Latham from 8 yards.  This had a devastating effect on Chadderton, they were visibly shaken.

AFC Mansfield began to dominate the game and the 4th goal came on 73 minutes.  It was the same combination of Williams delivery and Mitchell’s accuracy in front of goal with a header planted firmly in the bottom corner to leave Latham stranded.

The final goal followed 5 minutes later when substitute Jordan Vilums collected the ball out on the right flank.  The wide man turned his marker one way then the other and finally hit a deep cross to the far post.  The flight of the ball deceived Latham and it found the back of the net courtesy of the inside of the far post.

The final 10 minutes saw Mitchell go close twice to completing his hat trick but the game ended with cheers from the travelling faithful and a tough home game against NCEL Premier Division leaders Tadcaster Albion awaits.


Chadderton: Latham, Harewood, Pauley (Sultan 57), Greenidge, Rogers, O’Connor, Curley, Sherwood, Murray Russell, Whitehead. 

Man of the Match
AFC Mansfield: White, Ludlow (Wilson 80), Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor J, Williams R, Buxton (Tighe 82), Whitman (Vilums 74), Mitchell, Cotton.  Subs not used: Brewin & Williams D.

Referee: Mr Martin Woods

Man of the Match: Ryan Williams


Attendance: 166

*****************************************
Wednesday 14th January 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 2 – 0 EccleshillUnited
Both teams deserve enormous credit for battling the elements for 90 minutes and still entertain the hardy crowd that turned out to watch this game.  Everybody was battered from start to finish by high winds and rain on a very cold night.

The Bulls, courtesy of a goal in each half ran out winners.  Phil Buxton put them in front in the first half and Craig Mitchell sealed the points 7 minutes from time to send AFC Mansfield up to 5th in the league.

Manager Rudy Funk made a couple of changes from Saturday, Buxton and Dean Rick coming into the starting 11 and Tristan Whitman and Joe Naylor going to the bench.

Kicking with the wind in the 1st half the home side pressurised visitors Eccleshill from the start with Danny Naylor and Dean Rick going close in the opening 15 minutes.

Ryan Williams short corner on 23 minutes found Glyn Cotton whose rasping low drive was well held by Joe Stead in the Eccleshill goal.  Two minutes later Cotton tried his luck from 25 yards but his shot was a yard over the bar.

Phil Buxton
The Bulls took the lead on 38 minutes, a cross from Danny Naylor was not dealt with by the Eccleshill defence and the ball dropped to the feet of Phil Buxton on the edge of the box.  The midfielder took a touch and then drilled the ball past Stead into the bottom right and corner of the net.

Jason White was fouled on 40 minutes the ball dropping to Matt Burrus who hit the bar from 15 yards although the referee had already blown for the foul.

Ryan Williams sliced his chance wide to double the lead on 43 minutes.

Eccleshill playing with the wind should have gone more direct but continued to role the ball out from their keeper allowing AFC to press them higher up the pitch.  Craig Mitchell nearly benefitted from this on 55 minutes but lifted his drive over the bar. Mitchell went closer 2 minutes later with Stead turning his near post effort behind for a corner.

Marcus Edwards saw his volley crash back off the bar on 65 minutes and at the other end a determined run down the left saw Williams drive the ball across goal and James Queerie hooked the ball away from Mitchell’s feet.
Man of the Match
Craig Mitchell

Another Mitchell effort went over the bar on 80 minutes but his effort was rewarded 3 minutes later when he headed home from an Ash Kitchen long throw to seal the points for AFC Mansfield.

Declan Brewin outstripped Corey Novotny on 87 minutes with his cross finding Glyn Cotton who fired wide.

After the game manager Rudy Funk had this to say “This is probably the best performance I have seen since I came to the club.  The work rate and commitment was top class. The league is our main priority, but this gives us a good platform for Saturday’s FA Vase game.  The players are full of confidence and raring to go.”

AFC Mansfield: White, Ludlow, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Buxton, Williams R, Naylor D, Rick (Naylor J 70), Mitchell (Brewin 85), Cotton.  Subs not used: Tighe, Whitman & Vilums.

Eccleshill United: Stead, Furst, Queerie, Springer (Novotny 75), Conde, Storr, Rogers (Rosenstrauch 75), Flaherty, Edwards, Burrus, Voissey.  Subs not used: Mills, Stevenson & Lehman.

Referee: Mr Paul Matthewson (Sth Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Ryan Henger & Mr Jack Fewster

Attendance: 71


Man of the Match: Craig Mitchell

***************************************
Saturday 10th January 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Selby Town 1 – 4 AFC Mansfield



A brace from man of the match Craig Mitchell, a superb volley by Tristan Whitman and a debut goal for Glyn Cotton completed a sharp professional performance for AFC Mansfield.

Before the game awards were presented to Danny Naylor and Dean Rick for 100 appearances for the club and then both teams set about battling with the weather and the high winds that blew straight across the pitch at Selby.

The first chance came on 15 minutes when Tristan Whitman fed Craig Mitchell down the left.  Mitchell powered his way past 2 defenders before curling his effort narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box.  Mitchell lead the line well throughout the game and much of the Mansfield’s  sides moves came through him.

5 minutes later and Mitchell went one better planting a header past Rob Zand off a Kyle Ludlow cross and after excellent work down the right flank from Ryan Williams and Whitman.

The lead was short lived when Matt Turnbull rose unchallenged in the box to head past Jason White from a free kick.

Possibly the goal of the game came on the half hour mark, a Ryan Williams corner driven into the box was met in spectacular style by a flying volley from Tristan Whitman that left keeper Zand stranded as AFC Mansfield retook the lead.

The Bulls could have increased their lead before the break both Mitchell and Ludlow going close.

The 2nd half was only 6 minutes old when AFC Mansfield extended their lead.  Ryan Wiliams made a superb run down the right flank and found Craig Mitchell with a clever pass.  The striker took his time picked his spot and stroked the ball past the advancing Zand.

The final goal came on 71 minutes and again it was Williams who provided the pass.  Another great run down the right flank, this time finding debutant Glyn Cotton in the box.  Cotton had a bit of work to do, wriggling past two defenders, one of them Dane Mortimer, playing under his real name this time, but the final shot had the desired effect beating Zand and finding the net.

Dean Rick could have made it 5-1 on 82 minutes, sent clear by a Danny Naylor pass his first effort was blocked by Zand and he scooped his follow up wide of the mark.

Cotton then saw a rasping 25 yard free kick  saved well by Zand and Craig Mitchell fluffed his chance of a hat-trick firing wide from just 10 yards.


A confident display by AFC Mansfield and they will be hoping to continue this form on Wednesday night when they host Eccleshill United at The Forest Town Arena.

Selby Town: Zand, Horsman, Williams (Raistrick 62), Turnbull, Evans, Mortimer, Forrester, Dickman (c) (Medcalf 21), Jackson, Muirhead, Bunch.  Sub not used: Ceiply

AFC Mansfield: White, Dudley, Ludlow, Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor J (Buxton 84), Williams R (Rick 78), Naylor D, Whitman (Vilums 71), Mitchell, Cotton.  Subs not used: Meehan & Tighe

Referee: Mr Adam Smith (South Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Liam Smith (South Yorks.) & Miss Natasha Wilson (South Yorks.)

Attendance: 112

Man of the Match: Craig Mitchell


*******************************************
Saturday 3rd January 2015
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 3 – 3 Shirebrook Town 





AFC Mansfield made the comeback of all comebacks when Declan Brewin scored in the last minute to rescue a point for The Bulls.  A bumper crowd of 311 certainly got there monies worth in this edge of the seat local derby.

3-0 down and reduced to 10 men the Mansfield side must have thought it was all over but goals from Ryan Williams, Joe Naylor and Brewin silenced the vociferous Shirebrook following.

Shirebrook made the better start as the home side looked as if they were still getting over Christmas.  It was no surprise when the visitors took the lead on 12 minutes.  Indecision at the back allowed Kieron Watson to turn neatly in the box and fire a low drive past Jason White from 12 yards.

Shirebrook continued to have the better of the exchanges and Kyle Ludlow was forced to block a Liam Morris shot on goal after 16 minutes.

The home side finally managed to get into the game with Joe McCormack getting behind a Dean Rick low drive on 22 minutes.  Back at the other end Morris fired high and wide on 26 minutes.

Craig Mitchell found the side netting with his effort on the half hour mark as AFC began to get back into the game.  Mitchell then headed a Ryan Williams cross wide of the mark on 35 minutes.

Things got worse for the home side towards the end of the first half when Danny Naylor was booked for a late challenge and then a minute later made another clumsy challenge for his 2nd yellow card reducing The Bulls to 10 men.

The introduction of Scott Rickards to replace Kyle Ludlow at the start of the 2nd half was going to have an effect on the game later on.  But in the meantime it just got worse for AFC Mansfield.

Jamie York hit a dipping shot from just outside the box on 51 minutes that flashed past White and in off the underside of the bar to double the visitors lead.

Will Dennis fired well wide on the hour mark and Dean Rick thought he had reduced the arrears on 62 minutes firing home from a Ryan Williams cross only to be denied by a linesman’s flag.

Shirebrook made it 3-0 on 75 minutes, Matt Plant forcing the ball home inside the 6 yard box from a corner.  Shirebrook then decided to sit deep and invite the home side on and with room to operate in midfield Rickards and Williams began to take control.

The chanting from the Shirebrook fans got louder as they mocked AFC Manager Rudy Funk, unfortunately it was ill advised as in the next 13 minutes their cheers turned to despair as their team surrendered an unassailable position.

Ryan Williams hit a superb looping first time effort from just outside the box to beat McCormack on 77 minutes and Shirebrook started to get nervous.

On 82 minutes Declan Brewin delivered a cross to the far post where Joe Naylor’s header was turned around the post by Dennis.  At the other end Watson raced clear only to be denied by some superb keeping by White.  From the resulting corner Plant headed wide with a free header.

The comeback continued on 87 minutes when Joe Naylor headed home on the far post from a Scott Rickards cross.

Declan Brewin
White again denied Watson a minute later in another one on one and this was to cost Shirebrook dearly.  White found Declan Brewin down the right flank and the young striker raced to the edge of the box and unleashed a stinging drive that flew into the top corner to bring the scores level.

A chant of ‘you’re not singing anymore’ rang out from the Mansfield fans as Shirebrook looked shell shocked.  The game had just enough time to restart before the referee blew the final whistle and to be fair if it had carried on for a further 5 minutes AFC Mansfield looked the more likely to win it.

The referee explained after the match he had played just over 6 minutes added time due to a couple of injuries, 4 goals, 5 substitutions and countless times when the ball had been hoofed out of the playing area by an increasingly desperate visiting defense.

In truth AFC Mansfield weren’t at their best but Shirebrook failed to finish off the game when they had the chances to.  It all means that the return fixture in a month’s time promises to be cracker of a game and one not to be missed.

AFC Mansfield: White, Ludlow (Rickards 45), Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor J, Williams R, Naylor D, Rick (Brewin 66), Mitchell, Whitman (Buxton 83).  Subs not used: TIghe & Vilums

Shirebrook Town: McCormack, Dennis, Dawson (Chambers 65), Weaver, Plant, Campion, York, Hanson (c), Morris (Green 88), Shepherd, Watson.  Subs not used: Ellis & Cook.

Referee: Mr Lee Freeman (Sth Yorks.)
Man of the Match
Assistants: Mr Charles Cresswell-Hibbert (Notts.) & Mr Kelvin Wilson (Derbys.)

Man of the Match: Jason White (AFC Mansfield), Jamie York (Shirebrook Town)

Attendance: 311



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Saturday 20th December 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 3 – 0 Winterton Rangers
AFC Mansfield eased into Christmas with a comfortable win against Winterton Rangers at The Forest Town Arena on Saturday.  A brace from Tristan Whitman to make it 7 goals in 7 games for the striker and a volley form Ash Kitchen did the damage.

The Bulls were missing leading goalscorer Dean Rick through suspension and Scott Rickards and Joe Meehan through illness.  But they welcomed back Kyle Ludlow and Joe Naylor to the starting line-up.

Early pressure in the opening minutes with Craig Mitchell thinking he had scored only to see Daniel Waring superbly tip his goalbound header over the bar.

Whitman had the ball in the back of the net on 10 minutes from a Joe Naylor cross only to see it chalked off for offside.

The Bulls went in front on 21 minutes, an Ash Kitchen looping cross was controlled first time by Danny Williams in the box.  A neat square ball to Whitman who turned neatly before drilling the ball into the bottom left corner past the outstretched Waring.


Winterton were restricted to long range efforts which Jason White dealt with comfortably. 

AFC doubled their lead on 32 minutes, a superbly delivered corner by Phil Buxton found Joe Naylor on the far post.  The midfielder headed the ball back across goal to the opposite post where Ash Kitchen fired a volley past Waring.


The scoring was completed early in the second half, a Kyle Ludlow free kick was met by Joe Naylor’s head.  Waring managed to parry the header but pushed it towards the far post and the waiting Whitman who headed home from 3 yards.

The game died a little after this, Winterton posed no threat and AFC Mansfield took their foot off the gas.
2 goals from Tristan Whitman

A couple of chances at the end of the game, Robbie Start for the visitors saw his edge of the box effort go wide of the mark on 88 minutes and Buxton headed wide from a Danny Tighe cross a minute later.

This sets the scene nicely for back to back games against local rivals Shirebrook Town over the festive period.

AFC Mansfield: White, Ludlow (Wilson 70), Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor J, Buxton, Naylor D (Tighe 75), Whitman, Mitchell, Williams (Vilums 60).

Man of the Match
Winterton Rangers: Waring (c), Coulbeck, Cawsey, Welsh (Severn 50), Thompson, Williamson, Varley, Marshall (Hindson 76), McKay (Bacon 79), Anderson, Start.  Subs not used: Dungworth & Steeper.

Referee: Mr Ashley Royston (Sth Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Stephen Sears (Notts.) & Miss Brittany Smith (Derbys.)

Attendance: 61


Man of the Match: Ashley Kitchen


*********************************
Wednesday 10th December 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 3 – 1 Pontefract Collieries

Both teams had debutant No. 10’s Craig Mitchell for AFC and Aaron Moxam for Pontefract. But it was AFC Mansfield’s new signing Craig Mitchell that won that particular battle securing a brace on his debut and also the Man of the Match award.  The Bulls goal tally was completed by Tristan Whitman who continued his fine run of goals with another clinical finish.  Pontefract’s goal came from substitute Matt Marsden and was only a consolation at the end of a game that AFC Mansfield dominated.

Playing with the wind at their backs the home side were immediately pressurising the Pontefract goal.  But it wasn’t until the 20th minute that they got the break through they deserved.  Scott Rickards delivering a ball into the box that was flicked on by Dean Rick to the far post where Craig Mitchell outjumped Adam Robinson to head home his first goal for the club.

Mitchell nearly doubled his tally 2 minutes later with a 20 yard curling effort that had the keeper beaten but went narrowly wide of the far post.

Pontefract should have been level on the half hour mark when Tom Copping crashed his header against the bar.  The pressure was soon resumed and Craig Parry made an excellent save from Rick on 32 minutes and then again on 36 minutes from Phil Buxton.

Parry was in action again on 40 minutes, this time turning a Rick header around the post for a corner.

The half ended with just a goal between the two sides and Pontefract were left wondering why it was only one.

Captain Liam Radford saw his low drive easily saved by Jason White on the hour mark.  Mitchell turned neatly in the box on 67 minutes but fired well over from 12 yards.

A Rickards through ball found Mitchell on the left flank.  The striker went past a defender got to the line and calmly waited for Tristan Whitman before pulling the ball back.  Whitman stepped inside one defender before rifling the ball past 3 defenders on the line to make it 2-0 on 79 minutes.

Joe Meehan came to The Bulls rescue on 86 minutes heading a goalbound effort from Radford onto the bar.

AFC Mansfield made it 3-0 on 88 minutes, Danny Williams making a surging run down the left flank before driving the ball across the 6 yard box for Mitchell to hit the roof of the net with a first time finish.

Pontefract got their consolation goal in the last minute, AFC failing to clear and when the ball came back into the box Matt Marsden flick it through a group of players and into the net.
AFC Mansfield’s last game before Christmas will be a home game against Winterton Rangers on Saturday 20th December.

AFC Mansfield: White, Meehan, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Buxton (Tighe 84), Rickards, Naylor D, Rick (Williams 70), Mitchell, Whitman (Kimberley 86).  Subs not used: Ludlow & Saxby

Pontefract Collieries: Parry, Robinson C, Robinson A (Joseph 44), Copping, Rouse, Corbett (Heeley 70), Catton, Kamara (Marsden 73), Radford (c), Moxam and Whitehouse.  Subs not used: Narvil & Handley

Referee: Mr Wayne Cooper (Sth Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Neil Allsop (Notts.) & Mr Colin Bailey (Sth Yorks.)

Attendance: 69

Man of the Match: Craig Mitchell
*************************
Sunday 7th December 2014
The FA Vase 3rd Round
Mickleover Royals 0 – 1 AFC Mansfield

In only their 3rd season of existence AFC Mansfield made history by reaching the last 32 of The FA Vase at The Raygar Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Man of the Match Tristan Whitman got the only goal a minute from time to send The Bulls through.

The home side started the brighter of the two, playing with 3 up front they pushed The Bulls back without really threatening in the opening minutes.  Scott Rickards had the visitors first chance on 7 minutes forcing Ashley Warner down to his right to deny the midfielder.  A minute later Phil Buxton hit a volley wide of the mark from 15 yards.

Kirk Francis raced clear on 10 minutes but his shot was a tame one and Jason White dealt with it comfortably.  Daniel Martin then fired over the bar with a 25 yard free kick 2 minutes later.

Mickleover had been the better side for the first 30 minutes but the game began to change in the last 15.  A neat move involving Mark Dudley and Rickards down the left found Dean Rick in the box.  Rick turned sharply and fired a low drive which Warner did well to turn away down to his left.  Whitman fired the follow up into the side netting.


Another neat passing move on 34 minutes found Rick again but this time he fired wide of the mark from 12 yards.

Both teams had free kicks blocked at the start of the 2nd half but it was AFC that began to dominate possession as the game wore on.

Whitman did well down the right flank before delivering a cross to the far post where Joe Naylor headed inches over the bar.  At the other end Simpson fires inches wide from 20 yards.

Whitman was again involved in the Mickleover box, a neat chip to the far post that Buxton just failed to make contact with.

Tyrell Shannon cut inside 2 defenders on 82 minutes before firing high and wide from 12 yards.  A scramble inside the AFC box on 85 minutes was only half cleared.  When the ball came back in Steve O’Connell headed wide of the far post.


Chris Timons made a superb tackle on 87 minutes to deny Lois Menson in the box.  Timons then had the ball in the back of the net from a Buxton corner but the goal was chalked off for a push in the box.

There was an extended period of added on time and just when everybody was preparing for extra time the winning goal came.  A long clearance from Mark Dudley found Whitman on the edge of the Mickleover box, the striker took a touch and with keeper Warner advancing Whitman cleverly lifted the ball over him and into the net sending the AFC supporters wild with delight.  There was just enough time for one more move form the home side which came to nothing and then that was it.  AFC Mansfield will eagerly await the draw on Monday afternoon.

Mickleover Royals: Warner, Thompson, Buxton O, Simpson, Aliguma, Martin (c), Foster, Roberts, Hamson (O’Connell 67), Shannon & Francis (Menson 75).  Subs not used:

AFC Mansfield: White, Meehan, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor J, Buxton, Naylor D, Rick (Haslam 85), Whitman & Rickards.  Subs not used: Tighe, Kimberley, Ludlow & Grayson.

Referee: Mr Richard Watson (Staffordshire)

Man of the Match: Tristan Whitman


Attendance: 134

******************************************
Saturday 29th November 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Rossington Main 2 – 2 AFC Mansfield
Despite a brace from striker Tristan Whitman AFC Mansfield had to settle for a point at Rossington on Saturday.

The Bulls were without striker Dean Rick, midfielder Joe Naylor and central defender Kyle Ludlow for the trip to Rossington’s Oxford Street ground.

AFC Mansfield were on the front foot straight away  and Danny Naylor saw his 25 yard effort saved by keeper Jordan Wildey after just 2 minutes.

Scott Rickards fed the ball out to Carl Haslam on the right flank on 6 minutes, Haslam cut inside and hit a curling effort from the edge of the box that had Wildey beaten but drifted inches wide of the far post.

The Bulls went in front on 11 minutes, a curling right hand corner from Danny Williams was met by Tristan Whitman’s head. The ball hit the post and was then hooked away but the linesman signalled the ball had crossed the line.

Rossington could have equalised on 16 minutes when Lee Holmes found himself with a shot on goal, unfortunately his effort was always rising over the bar.

The pressure continued at the other end and Zak Oakshott sliced a clearance over the bar from a cross by Whitman.

The home side were back on level terms on 24 minutes when Shaun Pendleton picked the ball up 30 yards out and was given the space and time to unleash an unstoppable drive that flew into the top right hand corner of the net.

We didn’t have to wait long for AFC Mansfield to regain the lead.  Just 3 minutes later and Rickards released Williams down the left.  Williams wriggled past 3 defenders before pulling the ball back across the 6 yard box to Whitman who had the simplest of finishes for his second of the game.

AFC Mansfield came out for the second half and looked content to defend their slender lead.  But pressure began to mount and on the hour mark successive blocks in the 6 yard box were just a sign of things to come.

Jason White got down well on 63 minutes to save from Jordan Hatton’s edge of the box low drive.

Rossington drew level on 76 minutes, a series of first time passes opened up the visitors defence and the ball eventually found Niall Doyle who fired past White from 12 yards.

This did wake AFC Mansfield up and Naylor and Buxton went close from outside the box.  Both Naylor and Brewin went close in the dying minutes but Rossington held out to salvage a point from the game.

No time to rest as AFC Mansfield return home on Wednesday when they take on Bottesford Town, kick off is 7.45pm.

Rossington Main: Wildey, Baldry, Shrimpton, Pendleton, Fielding, Oakshott, Bennett, Hatton, Holmes, Doyle, Billam.  Subs not used: Green, Ringsell, Marquis & Woodhall.

AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Naylor D, Rickards, Buxton, Whitman, Haslam, Williams.  Subs not used: Vilums, Meehan & Saxby.

Referee: Mr David Jones (Lincs.)
Assistants: Mr Luke Lazenby (Sth Yorks.) & Mr Gregory Roberts (Sth Yorks.)

Attendance: 86


Man of the Match: Ashley Kitchen

*****************************************
Wednesday 26th November 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 4 – 1 Lincoln Moorlands Railway
The Bulls at last returned home after an extensive run of away fixtures.  Manager Rudy Funk made just one change from the FA Vase winning side on Saturday.  Back in came Mark Dudley for Carl Haslam who was unavailable through work commitments.

Lincoln Moorlands came on the back of a poor run of results and right from the kick off they were on the back foot.  Tristan Whitman had the first real chance on 7 minutes, turning neatly in the box before forcing a great save out of Craig Turne in the Lincoln goal.

Plenty of pressure from AFC Mansfield but it wasn’t until the 20th minute that Turne goal was troubled again.  This time Dean Rick fired wide of the far post from just inside the box.

A warning for The Bulls on 25 minutes when Simon Mowbray got in behind but thankfully he pulled his low drive wide of the far post.

Mowbray nearly got the opener 4 minutes later, again getting behind the AFC back four and racing past Jason White and into the box.  He looked certain to score but young full back Brad Wilson had other ideas.  Making up an incredible amount of ground Wilson put in a superb sliding tackle 5 yards out to deny Mowbray.  In fact Wilson’s all round performance made him a shoe in for Man of the Match and is an indication of how well the U21 side is working out for the club.

AFC Mansfield went in front on 44 minutes.  A looping forward ball from Ash Kitchen put pressure on the visitors defence and Danny Williams was first to make contact heading the ball on to Dean Rick.  Rick turned full circle before firing past Turne from 7 yards.

The first 10 minutes of the second half saw The Bulls have the ball in the back of the net 2 times with both efforts cancelled out by a linesman’s flag.  The first was a kick from Jason White that bounced inside the opposition box before going over Turne’s head.  No contact was made with the keeper so it must have been for offside.  The 2nd chance saw Rick turn outpace a defender and fire past Turne only to see the flag go up again for offside.

It got worse for Rick on 66 minutes, giving the ball away in his own half he could only watch as it was delivered to the far post where George Asplin headed goalwards and although White managed to get a hand to it and force it onto the post the ball found its way into the net.

Another good kick from White found Buxton down the right flank, Phil Buxton’s first time ball sent Rick clear and the Captain confidently fired past Turne to regain the lead on 70 minutes.

Declan Brewin scored his first goal of the season for the 1st team after coming on to replace Dean Rick.  Brewin collected Mark Dudley’s through ball on 83 minutes, outpaced right back Matt Coe and fired a superb drive past Turne from 15 yards.

AFC Mansfield completed the scoring on 87 minutes and again it was another first for a player.   Tristan Whitman a recent signing from Rainworth MW got his first goal for the club.  Tristan has been putting in some impressive performances for the club and got his just rewards when he finished off another good move to fire home the fourth goal on 87 minutes.

The Bulls travel to Rossington Main on Saturday and will be hoping to keep this winning run going.



AFC Mansfield: White, Wilson, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons, Naylor J, Rickards (Naylor D 64), Buxton, Rick (Brewin 72), Whitman, Williams (Grayson 80).  Subs not used: Tighe & Saxby.

Lincoln Moorlands Railway: Turne, Coe, Thurston, Forbes (c), Hiatt (Hodds 74), Wren, Szendry (Conlon 84), Pell, Hawkin, Mowbray, Asplin.
Man of the Match

Referee: Mr James McLeod (London)
Assistants: Mr John Stevens (Derbys.) & Mr Kelvin Wilson (Derbys.)

Attendance: 62


Man of the Match: Brad Wilson


************************
Saturday 22nd November 2014
The FA Vase Round 2
Shepshed Dynamo 2 – 3 AFC Mansfield
AFC Mansfield progressed to the 3rd round of the FA Vase at the expense of Midland League side Shepshed Dynamo.  It took extra time to do it in a rip-roaring cup tie that entertained the crowd right up until the final whistle.



The Bulls made four changes to the side that won in midweek, Ash Kitchen, Chris Timons, Joe Naylor and Carl Haslam all came back into the starting line-up.

The visitors were kicking up the slope at The Dovecote Stadium and neither side could dominate the early exchanges.  AFC won their first corner on 10 minutes which came to nothing.  Then on 18 minutes Carl Haslam had his first sight of goal.  Racing clear of his marker his rasping drive was palmed away by keeper Ryan Thacker and collected at the 2nd attempt.

An inviting cross from Scott Rickards on 20 minutes saw Dean Rick stretch but just fail to connect at the far post.  Chris Timons was in the wars clashing heads three times during the first half but the experienced defender never missed a challenge and was awesome throughout the game and thoroughly deserved the Man of the Match award.

On the half hour mark Haslam broke clear again but this time pulled his shot wide of the far post.

Shepshed had their first shot on target after 40 minutes with Gavin Saxby getting down well at his near post to deny Brett Darby.  So the half finished goalless but there were definitely some goals in the game.

10 minutes into the 2nd half AFC Mansfield took the lead, somewhat controversially.  A long throw from Ash Kitchen was only half cleared with the ball falling to Scott Rickards who drove the ball through a mass of players and into the net.  The linesman on the far side had his flag up and it looked as if the goal would be chalked off.  Referee Trevor Sharratt went over and had a long discussion with his assistant and overruled him and signalled for a goal.  This incensed the home side and Chris Gray was booked for protesting too much.

The lead, however, was short lived 4 minutes later and a free kick was delivered into the AFC box and Jimmy Brooks met it with a glancing header that nestled in the back of the net.
Haslam fired wide again on 61 minutes and Saxby denied Steve Towers with another fine save a minute later.

Alvin Jarvis was booked on 77 minutes for putting the ball into the net with his hand and Ashley Grayson missed the target as the game lurched towards extra time.  Saxby made another important save this time denying substitute Courtney Meade in the last minute of normal time.

Shepshed took the lead 5 minutes into the first period of extra time.  It was a root one goal when a kick from keeper Thacker eluded the AFC back line and top scorer Adam Vasey took one touch before firing past Saxby.

Again the lead was short lived, 5 minutes later Rick made a great run into the box before shielding the ball and then laying it back into the path of Phil Buxton who fired past Thacker to bring the scores level.

The Bulls were now in the ascendancy taking the game to the home side in the 2nd period of extra time.  Despite the pressure it looked like the game was going to a replay.  But Carl Haslam had different ideas.  The striker got on the end of a sweeping pass across field from Rickards, raced into the box turned his marker and fired past Thacker with the ball hitting the far post rolling across the line and hitting the net on the other side of the goal.  A goal worthy of winning any game and a minute later he nearly doubled his tally, forcing a fine save out of Thacker.

Shepshed Dynamo: Thacker, Gray, Beastall, Chapman, Jarvis, Brooks (c), Hind, Towers, Vasey, Darby (Meade 84), Cobb (Joachim 95).  Subs not used: Staniland, Bennett & Fletcher

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Wilson, Williams, Kitchen, Timons, Naylor J (Naylor D 112), Rickards, Buxton, Rick (Brewin 105), Haslam, Whitman (Grayson 65).  Sub not used: Ludlow
Man of the Match

Referee: Mr Trevor Sharratt

Attendance: 141


Man of the Match: Chris Timons



**************************
Wednesday 19th November 2014
The Toolstation Northern Couinties East League Cup
Round 3
Eccleshill Utd 1 - 3 AFC Mansfield


AFC Mansfield made the long trip to Eccleshill with a changed side from Saturday's odd goal in 7 defeat at Penistone.  No fewer than five changes to the starting line up due to injuries and non availability. In came Tristan Whitman for his first start since signing from Rainworth MW, crowd favourite Joe 'Jammy' Meehan returned to play at the heart of defence after spending most of this season at CML side Bilsthorpe.  Danny Williams made the 11 after being injured for the last 3 weeks, Phill Buxton started after being on the bench for the last 2 games and finally Brad Wilson, captain of the U21 side made another appearance at right back.

The Bulls had learnt from their previous game against Eccleshill and they allowed the hosts to play from the back but didn't go chasing the ball in the opposition half this compacted play in the middle of the park and Eccleshill found it difficult to break down a disciplined AFC side.

The visitors thought they had a penalty after just 10 minutes when Dean Rick was upended in the box but amazingly the referee Matt Bacon who overall had an excellent game waved play on.

The next real chance for The Bulls came on 24 minutes when Ash Grayson saw his curling effort turned around the post by Ethan Cashen in the home goal.  From the resulting corner Phil Buxton volleyed into the side netting on the far post.

AFC Mansfield took the lead at the end of the first half, a 'Jammy' Meehan looping forward ball saw Dean Rick out muscle defender Brandon Turner and keeper Cashen before stroking the ball home from 12 yards at a tight angle.

Of course AFC didn't haver it all their own way and the pace of Marcus Edwards was always a threat although his shooting boots were missing on at least two occasions when he elected to pass rather than shooting.

Grayson could have made it 2-0 at the start of the 2nd half but headed a Scott Rickards free kick wide of the mark.

Marcus Edwards saw his curling free kick crash back off the bar on 50 minutes and in true cup tie fashion it was becoming end to end stuff.

The Bulls got their 2nd goal on 63 minutes, sustained pressure on the home goal with the Eccleshill defence struggling to clear their lines.  Danny Williams fired the ball back into the box and an outstretched arm of a defender stopped it in its tracks.  Referee Matt Bacon had no hesitation and pointed to the spot.  Scott Rickards sent Cashen the wrong way with a calm and clinical finish.

Two minutes later and Saxby was guilty of an over zealous challenge in the box and another penalty was awarded.  Matt Burrus had the chance to reduce the arrears and fired the spot kick low into the right hand corner.  Saxby had other ideas and made a superb save to deny the home side.

Declan Brewin was unlucky when he burst into the box on 70 minutes beating Cashen with his low drive but also the far post by inches.

Eccleshill pulled one back on 73 minutes, Marcus Edwards pouncing on a rare mistake at the back from The Bulls defence to fire into the far corner past Saxby from 15 yards.

AFC Mansfield made the game safe in the final 5 minutes a long headed clearance saw Rick out pace the home defenders and when the ball bounced just outside the area Rick bravely headed towards goal before being wiped out by the onrushing 6' 6" Cashen.  The ball bounced over the line and Rick was eventually replaced for the final few minutes by Danny Tighe.  A trip to casualty to have the gash in his head glued together followed the next day.  Cashen should count himself lucky not to receive at least a yellow card in what was at best a very rash challenge.

AFC Mansfield have another away trip in the last 16 with the winners of Glasshoughton Welfare and Bridlington Town to be their hosts.

Another cup game for The Bulls on Saturday, they travel to Midland League Shepshed Dynamo for the 2nd round of The FA Vase with prize money of £1200 up for grabs.


Man of the Match
Eccleshill Utd: Cashen, Mills, Queere, Turner, Conde, Burrus, Rivera, Stevenson, Edwards, Flaherty, Rosenstraugh.


AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Wilson, Dudley, Meehan, Ludlow, Buxton, Rickards, Grayson, Rick (c) (Tighe 88), Whitman (Brewin 60), Williams.

Referee: Matt Bacon
Assistants: Cameron Pope and Richard Woodard

Attendance: 17

Man of the Match: Dean Rick

Listen to Manager Rudy Funks post match reaction to the win.


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Saturday 15th November 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Penistone Church 4 – 3 AFC Mansfield
AFC Mansfield’s hopes of any points disappeared in the fog at Penistone on Saturday.  Leading with first half goals from Nathan Benger and Joe Naylor, with a Lewis Dickinson penalty pegging the Bulls back, The Bulls looked on course for an away victory.  But in the opening 10 minutes of the second half the game was virtually thrown away, the visitors conceding two soft goals to put them on the back foot for the remainder of the game.

The Bulls started brightly, Carl Haslam making a series of runs down the left flank and on one such run he cut inside and unleashed a low drive which Rob Poulter did well to turn around the post after just 5 minutes.

AFC Mansfield went in front on 14 minutes, a superb cross from the right by Danny Tighe into the box found Nathan Benger who climbed above everybody to power home his header into the right hand corner of the net.

The lead was short lived, two minutes later while attempting to clear a high ball into the box Gavin Saxby was guilty of bowling over Dickinson and a penalty was given.  Dickinson sent Saxby the wrong way and the scores were level.

The Bulls were back in front on …minutes, another fine delivery from Tighe this time from a free kick on the left flank.  The initial delivery was blocked by Jones on the near post but after a scramble in the box the ball came across to Joe Naylor who fired home from 6 yards.

There was every reason for optimism but that was well and truly laid to rest in an awful opening 10 minutes of the second half.  Firstly a whipped in free kick took a deflection off the wall and then cannoned off Kyle Ludlow leaving Saxby stranded as the ball flew into the net for an equalising goal on 52 minutes.

Three minutes later and Dickinson was allowed the time to pick up a loose ball on the edge of the box, turn and pick his spot as Tighe and Ludlow dawdled to close him down.

AFC Mansfield were now chasing the game and this is where the match report gets a little foggy, literally.  The fog had been there all game but with the light going and the fog getting worse it was difficult at time to see further than 20 metres.

Penistone’s fourth goal on 78 minutes was a complete mystery scored by Tom Jones apparently.  Stood on the halfway line it was impossible to see what had happened.  Substitutions were made and were only identified when the players came over to the side opposite to the dugouts.

The Bulls pulled a goal back through Scott Rickards on 86 minutes and apparently it was a 25 yard drive, again this is hearsay because the fog restricted all but the few that were close enough to see through the dense fog.  This set up a tense few minutes for the home side but they stood firm to take the points.  

Three points given away with some poor defending and this will need to be addressed in the coming weeks.  However, no rest for AFC they travel to Eccleshill Utd on Wednesday for the 3rd round of the League Cup and then travel down to Shepshed Dynamo for the 2nd round of The FA Vase on Saturday.

Penistone Church: Poulter, Lee, Howes (c), Jones, Whitehead, Lovell, Richards, Moore, Ring (Crossfield 80), Dickinson, Lavender.  Subs not used: Young, Exley, Ellis, Briggs.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Tighe, Dudley, Ludlow, Timons (c), Rickards, Haslam, Naylor J (Naylor D 79), Rick, Benger (Whitman 60), Grayson (Buxton 64).  Subs not used: Wilson & Williams.

Referee: Mr Matt Tyers (Sth Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Mehdi Natefi (Sth Yorks.) & Mr Callum Gough (Sth Yorks.)

Attendance: 119


Man of the Match: Scott Rickards
***********************
Wednesday 12th November 2014
The Notts Senior Cup 2nd Round
AFC Mansfield 0 - 1 Selston FC


For the 2nd successive season The Bulls went out of The Notts Senior Cup in the same round against the same team and at home.  The only difference was that the scoreline was a lot tighter.

One crumb of comfort is that after they lost last season The Bulls went on a great run of games that won them the league title and promotion.

In a fairly even first half neither side looked to get the upper hand and they went in all square at the break.

The Bulls upped their game a little and forced the visitors back in the second half.  Although Selston always looked dangerous on the break and it was from one of these breaks that the winning goal came from.  Dom Airey tested Gavin Saxby with a 20 yard low drive that the keeper parried to his right.  Quickest to react was Jay Cooper who slipped the ball underneath Saxby from 6 yards on 74 minutes.

The home side continued to press but some of the deliveries into the box were woeful and the Selston back line were in no mood to be charitable.

Both sides did have chances to score but the first and only goal was decisive and Selston's reward is a third round tie at Northern Counties Premier Division side Retford United.

For AFC Mansfield back to business as usual, away at Penistone Church on Saturday and a chance to move up the league.  New manager Rudy Funk praised visitors Selston for their performance but will know he now has some work to do.  Instilling a little of the passion that the visitors showed would be a good place to start.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Kitchen, Dudley, Ludlow (Wilson 75), Timons (c), Rickards (Naylor 87), Vilums (Buxton 45), Naylor J, Rick, Benger, Grayson.  Subs not used: Tighe & Sargent.

Selston: Simpson, Davies, Davis, Farnsworth, Marriott P, Gregory (c ), James, Riley (Short 82), Smith (Renshaw 77),Cooper, Airey.  Subs not used: Marriott R, Bastow & Olden.

Referee: Mr Kevin Guise
Assistants: Mr David Hague & Mr Scott Anderson

Attendance: 91
Man of the Match: AFC Mansfield_Mark Dudley, Selston_Shaun Farnsworth


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Saturday 8th November 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Louth Town 1 – 5 AFC Mansfield

This game started at a frenetic pace with both sides looking for an opening.  The home side had two efforts blocked in the opening 5 minutes as they piled pressure on the AFC Mansfield goal.

The Bulls first effort came from a Nathan Benger knockdown to Jordan Vilums who’s 15 yard effort was deflected for a corner.  Next Benger went for goal himself forcing a good save out of Scott Drury in the Louth goal on 11 minutes.

At the other end Jamie Coulson fired over the bar from the edge of the box.  The Bulls took the lead on 13 minutes, Vilums hitting a sweet low drive into the bottom corner from 20 yards off a Scott Rickards pass.

Ash Grayson thought he had doubled the lead on 20 minutes firing into the back of the net only to be denied by an offside flag.

The White Wolves were back on level terms on 24 minutes when Kyle Ludlow stuck out a leg to trip Rocky Rawlings in the box.  Dan Stevens fired home the spot kick sending Gavin Saxby the wrong way much to the delight of the group of young boys who always stand behind the opposition goal at Louth and bang a drum and chant.  This is mainly to put off the opposing keeper, but Saxby had them in his pocket all game and even posed for a picture with them after the match.

AFC Mansfield were back on the attack 2 minutes later and Benger tried his luck from 25 yards, the ball always drifting wide of the goal.

Coulson went close on 29 minutes and then saw Saxby get down well to save his downward header a minute later.  The back four of Kitchen, Ludlow, Timons and Dudley are becoming the driving force behind an ever improving side, Kitchen being the best of the bunch today combining great defensive duties with a willingness to get forward to create chances.

The Bulls were beginning to get on top and Joe Naylor rattled the bar from 20 yards on 32 minutes and then Grayson fires over the bar from 12 yards.

AFC Mansfield regained the lead on 40 minutes and in a game of good goals this one probably stood out.  Scott Rickards controlled the ball in midfield before hitting a 30 yard screamer that flew into the top corner of the net leaving Drury rooted to the spot.

A Danny Tighe free kick bought the 3rd just before half time, a curling peach of a dead ball which Ash Kitchen headed home from 6 yards.

Saxby kept his fan club silent on 55 minutes when he superbly tipped Stevens goal bound 20 yard free kick around the post.

Another candidate for goal of the game came on 59 minutes, Tighe curling a 30 yard free kick around the wall and into the top corner leaving Drury grasping at thin air.

Saxby was still needed on 63 minutes, with another excellent reaction save to deny Rawlings.

Grayson had an effort blocked in the box and then headed narrowly wide on 79 minutes as the fight had disappeared from the home side.

AFC Mansfield had to wait until the last minute for their 5th, a great run from Carl Haslam down the right before pulling the ball back into the path of Phil Buxton to drill the ball home from 12 yards.

The Bulls will be at home on Wednesday 12th November in the Notts Senior Cup 2nd Round in a re-run of last year’s game which visitors Selston FC won.

Louth Town: Drury, Stevens, McSpadden (Smith 45), Summers, Martin, Hyland, Norton (Croft 80), Coulson (Buck 62), Shaw, Kilmore, Rawlings. Subs not used: Aldrich & Appleby.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Kitchen, Dudley, Ludlow, Timons (c) (Hollingworth 75), Tighe (Haslam 65), Vilums (Buxton 60), Naylor J, Benger, Grayson, Rickards.  Subs not used: Williams & Short.

Referee: Mr Drew Dutton (Sth Yorks.)
Man of the Match
Assistants: Mr Matt Maddison (Lincs.) & Mr Alan McGilveray (Sth Yorks.)

Attendance: 90


Man of the Match: Ash Kitchen




***********************************
Tuesday 4th November 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Grimsby Borough 2 – 3 AFC Mansfield

AFC Mansfield got off to the perfect start with a goal inside 1 minute.  There was 50 seconds on the clock when Dean Rick turned in a clever Danny Tighe free kick, firing past the bemused James Harness to put The Bulls in front.

Jordan Vilums sent Rick clear on 9 minutes but the strikers edge of the box drive went wide of the far post.

Man of the Match Ashley Grayson was put in by Phil Buxton on 22 minutes but his effort also drifted wide of the far post.  The frustration mounted when a Tighe free kick found Grayson on the far post, his knock back in turn found Joe Naylor who fired over the bar from 12 yards.

The visitors were awarded a penalty when Naylor was upended in the box. Carl Haslam saw his spot kick saved by Harness and then his follow up blocked by the keeper before the danger was cleared.

The Bulls continued to press and it was that pressure that yielded a second goal.  Rick was sent through in the box by Grayson and just as he was about to shoot Richard Creer managed to get a toe to the ball.  Unfortunately for the defender he only succeeded in lifting the ball over his own keeper and into the net.
The home side came out in a much more determined fashion in the second half and reduced the arrears with just 3 minutes played.  Luke Fanthorpe forcing the ball home after indecision at the back for AFC Mansfield.
The 2 goal cushion was restored 5 minutes later when Rick outstripped his marker got to the line to pull the ball back for Jordan Vilums to fire home from 10 yards.
Haslam pulled an effort wide on the hour mark but a minute later Fanthorpe had his second, again capitalising on indecisive defending to fire past Gavin Saxby in the visitors goal.
Both sides had chances as the game ebbed and flowed AFC Mansfield’s best coming from Nathan Benger who turned neatly in the box but curled his effort wide from 8 yards on 81 minutes.

A nervy end to the game for AFC Mansfield who weren’t at their best but they had 3 points to take back on the long journey home.

Grimsby Borough: Harness, Hamilton, Bensley, Braid (Mason 79), Creer, Thompson, Waugh, Wood, Fanthorpe, Flint, Taylor.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Tighe, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Buxton (Hollingworth 82), Vilums, Rick (Benger 68), Haslam (Brewin 75), Grayson.  Sub not used: Short.

Man of the Match
Referee: Mr Martin Chester (Lincs.)
Assistants: Mr Jerzy Banasik (Lincs.) & Mr Ian Hurst (Lincs.)

Attendance: 32


Man of the Match: Ashley Grayson


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Saturday 1st November 2014
The FA Vase 1st Round
Gedling Miners Welfare 0 – 2 AFC Mansfield

AFC Mansfield progressed through to the 2nd Round of the FA Vase courtesy of a goal in each half against Gedling Miners Welfare.  The first goal came from Ash Grayson with the second a penalty conversion from new dad Carl Haslam.

The Bulls injury list is ever growing with no less than 6 players unavailable today.  Back in the starting line-up was Carl Haslam and Mark Dudley who both missed the 1-1 draw at Winterton in midweek and a first start for Khyle Sargent.  Not such a happy occasion for Khyle as things panned out.

AFC Mansfield started the game brightly pinning the home side in their own half for much of the first 20 minutes.  The best chance in this period fell to Carl Haslam on 19 minutes who’s low drive had James Mountain rolling back the years to save smartly down to his left.

A minute later and the visitors went in front, Ash Kitchen sent Sargent scampering down the right flank and when his driven cross was parried by Mountain Ash Grayson was on hand to fire home from 4 yards.

The Bulls were reduced to 10 men on the half hour mark when Sargent tackled Mitch Slawson from behind and although Slawson did his best to make it into the box the initial contact was clearly outside the box and referee Luke Gardner awarded a free kick and sent Sargent off for a professional foul although some would dispute that he was the last man.  The resulting free kick and follow up were dealt with by the efficient AFC back four of Timons, Kitchen, Ludlow and Dudley, with Ludlow eventually getting the man of the match award.  This was on behalf of the four who all deserved a share.

The visitors got to half time without conceding and with a chance to regroup and come up with a plan for playing the second 45 with a man down.

The Bulls again started the half better than their opponents and it was Haslam again that had the best chance of the opening minutes forcing another good save out of Mountain.

Joe Naylor was tripped in the box on 57 minutes despite posing little danger to the Gedling goal and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.  Carl Haslam confidently dispatched the kick to put AFC a step closer to the next round.

A flurry of changes came over the next 20 minutes with both teams using all their subs.  This disjointed the game a little and although Gedling started to press the game was a little scrappy.  The visitors still posed a threat on the break and substitute Declan Brewin had the home side defence back peddling with his willingness to run at them.

Dan Gleeson saw his effort loop over the bar and Kelvin Mushambi had an effort blocked by that impenetrable back four of AFC Mansfield.

In the final minutes Gavin Saxby pulled off a trademark stop from Tony Law’s rasping free kick and the game was over.  AFC Mansfield will eagerly await the draw on Monday as the adventure continues.

Gedling MW: Mountain, Bartley, Gleeson, Brett, Brown, Mushambi, Stanley (Waites 60), MacDonald, Law, Slawson (Hopper 60), Clarson (Seaton 45).  Subs not used: Hawkins & Danby.
AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Kitchen, Dudley, Ludlow, Timons, Buxton (Vilums 66), Sargent, Naylor J, Grayson (Tighe 80), Haslam (Brewin 75), Rickards.  Subs not used: Wilson & Rick.

Referee: Mr Luke Gardner (Leics.)
Assistants: Mr Ellis Hewins (Leics.) & Mr Mike Precious (Leics.)

Attendance: 72


Man of the Match: Kyle Ludlow

****************************************
Saturday 25th October 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Knaresborough Town 1 – 2 AFC Mansfield


A game of two halves is a phrase often used in football but it perfectly describes the events at Manse Lane on Saturday.

AFC Mansfield started solidly enough and looked to have the upper hand in the opening 20 minutes.  Danny Tighes free kick was scrambled away as was a dangerous Carl Haslam cross on 14 minutes. 

Striker Dean Rick then saw one effort go wide on 17 minutes and another saved by the very tall figure of Paul Hagreen in the Knaresborough goal on 20 minutes. 

The game turned a minute later when Liam Gray brought the ball down just inside the visitors half and ghosted past Danny Tighe and Phil Buxton in the middle of the park.  The midfielder then hit a hopeful low drive that looked to be going wide until it hit defender Kyle Ludlow completely wrong footing Gavin Saxby to nestle in the bottom left of the goal. 

AFC Mansfield then picked up two unnecessary bookings for Rick and Buxton as Knaresborough started to dominate the final 20 minutes of the half.

Saxby made amends firstly on 35 minutes when he superbly turned Gray’s free kick over the bar with a one handed save and then made a similar one handed save to deny Colin Heath’s close range header on 37 minutes.

The two saves were immensely important as they kept AFC in the game.  Although, if they took the rather disjointed first half performance into the second half, they wouldn’t be in it for long.

Harsh words were spoken in the dressing room and it seemed to have the desired effect.  From the whistle The Bulls were on the front foot taking the game to the home side.  Keeper Hagreen saved at the feet of Rick after 50 minutes as the visitors neat passing game returned.

Will Lenehan made a clumsy challenge in the box on Rick  on 55 minutes and the referee pointed immediately to the spot.  Rick confidently sending Hagreen the wrong way to bring the visitors level.

The Bulls went in front 2 minutes later when good pressure on the Knaresborough defence saw Joe Naylor flick the ball on with his head into the Home box.

While the keeper and defenders all looked at each other Carl Haslam was quickest to react firing the ball into the rook of the net from 12 yards.

AFC Mansfield then made two substitutions, bringing Haslam and Tighe off and replacing them with Khyle Sargent and Danny Williams.  This injected some pace into the side and the final half hour saw the visitors pressing to increase their lead.

Sargent saw his shot saved by Hagreen on 65 minutes, a bit more composure and it could have been a different story for the impressive midfielder.

Williams saw a 20 yard effort drift narrowly wide on 75 minutes and five minutes later Sargent had another effort saved by the busy Hagreen in the home goal.

The Bulls continued to press although Knaresborough still kept looking for the equaliser but Saxby rarely looked troubled.

In the final minutes Williams had a one on one with Hagreen with the keeper again showing his worth by saving down to his left to keep the score tight.

No time to relax for AFC Mansfield, they are on the road again on Tuesday night when they make the 130 mile round trip to Winterton Rangers at Scunthorpe.

Knaresborough Town: Hagreen, Pascal, Radcliffe N, Duerdson (c), Lenehan, Gray, Wright (Carole 56), Bradley, Hamilton, Heath (Parkes 75), Littlefair (Radcliffe C 75).

Man of the Match
GAVIN SAXBY
AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Ludlow, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons (c), Buxton, Vilums, Tighe (Williams 62), Rick (Hollingworth  87), Haslam (Sargent  60), Naylor J.  Sub not used: Short.

Referee: Mr Ben Tomlinson (Sth Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Alecs Lukic (West Yorks.) & Mr Richard Woodward (Cheshire)

Attendance: 164

Man of the Match: Gavin Saxby



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Saturday 18th October 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 1 – 1 Hemsworth Miners Welfare

The Bulls welcomed another two new players into the fold, Nathan Benger from Heanor Town and Ashley Grayson from Mickleover Sports.  Unfortunately both players didn’t finish the game as both succumbed to injuries in the 2nd half.

Benger started brightly and forced a good save out of James Bentley on 8 minutes.  His aerial power and link up play was certainly causing problems for the visitors.

Hemsworth captain Jason Yates saw his edge of the box effort clear the bar on 23 minutes and there seemed nothing separating the sides.  Danny Williams tested Bentley 2 minutes later with a low 15 yard drive and it seemed as if the score would be blank going into the break.

The visitors though had other ideas and on 38 minutes Dominic Blair wriggled past Brad Wilson and Kyle Ludlow on the right and side of the box.  His pull back found Yates who had the simplest of finishes from 4 yards.

Hemsworth were in the ascendancy for the remaining minutes of the half and should have doubled their lead on 43 minutes when Blair had a goalbound effort superbly tipped over the bar by Gavin Saxby.

The 2nd half was a completely different story with AFC Mansfield dominating play.  Joe Naylor saw Bentley save his low drive at the 2nd attempt and on the hour mark a Williams shot was turned around the post by a seemingly unbeatable Bentley.

Naylor fired over from 12 yards and Ash Grayson had his 68th minute shot saved by Bentley.

Bentley was at it again on 70 minutes turning Khyle Sargent’s 25 yard effort onto the post and the stopper did the same to a Nathan Hollingworth 20 yard drive minutes later.

Grayson cleared the bar by inches with a looping header before being replaced by manager Dean Short.  Short’s first touch on 83 minutes was a 6 yard header from a Ash Kitchen long throw that Bentley could only parry and Joe Naylor was on hand to head home from 3 yards to give The Bulls a deserved equaliser.

Some desperate defending from the visitors kept AFC at bay for the remainder of the game although Mark Dudley thought he had the winner on 88 minutes when his header looked to be in but up popped Bentley to save at point blank range to earn Hemsworth a point.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby (c), Wilson, Dudley, Ludlow, Kitchen, Buxton, Grayson (Short 82), Naylor J, Benger (Sargent 56), Williams (Hollingworth 70).

Hemsworth MW: Bentley, Hayward, Haywood (Dixon 73), Crapper, Viggars, Steers, Connolly, Yates (c), Guest, Bair, Clark.  Subs not used: Pugh & Hart.

Referee: Mr David Evans (Sth Yorks.)
Assistants: Mr Gavin Davies (Lancs.) & Mr Andrew Gascoigne (Derbys.)

Attendance: 106


Man of the Match: Ashley Kitchen




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Saturday 11th October 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Clipstone 2 – 1 AFC Mansfield
Thought I would take a break from writing a full match report this week and refer to the home side’s version of events.  After all it will be the one in the paper this week.  I think like most reports it is a little biased, mine certainly are!  I have some pictures to go with my short take on the game so here goes.

AFC Mansfield were dealt two early blows when Adam Kimberley failed a fitness test and Kyle Ludlow was unavailable due to family circumstances.
The game was a contrast in styles with AFC’s passing possession game and Clipstone’s high work ethic off the ball.  The latter for me worked in this game, it disrupted our game and ultimately won the game for the home side.
Most would admit that a draw would have been a fair result and had Carl Haslam’s perfectly good header been allowed late in the 2nd half that would probably have been the case.  But it is no fluke that Clipstone have gone unbeaten in 10 league games and that tenacity and willingness to work hard gave them their reward.

Anyway here’s the full report courtesy of Nigel Splading ….
10 Out Of 10 For Clipstone
Possibly the first fixture both clubs looked out for at the start of the season, and what a contest this turned out to be. A crowd of 304 witnessed passion, a wanting to win, Three really well taken goals, Four Yellow Cards and a fantastic advert for local non-league football.
Clipstone manager Chris Millington was really chuffed with his team's work ethic. He said after the game, "a tremendous advert for local football. I am really happy with what I saw today, We took our chances and for the majority of the game we defended well and were in control of the game. We have players who will put themselves in the line of fire, where it hurts.” He also added, "We take one game at a time and enjoying the ride that we are undertaking. We are on a crest of a wave. We have played some really top teams already this season, so ten wins out of ten league games is what dreams are made of for a manager.”
The game started at a really fast pace with both teams defending well in the first few minutes. The first shot in anger came in the third minute and went the way of AFC Mansfield with Carl Haslam trying his luck from 16 yards out, but Clipstone keeper Nick Siddons got his whole body behind it and held on well.
There was a midfield battle going on surprisingly enough in midfield. Pressure was amounting on a slippery surface as the rain just before kick-off making the ball skid off the surface, and Matty Ord hit his backpass to Nick Siddons a little too firmly and the keeper had to control with his chest and quickly clear the ball whilst being chased down by AFC's Dean Rick.  The ball ricocheting off the forward but not enough to cause any problems.
On 12 minutes Jake Currie was upended 25 yards out towards the left side of the penalty area. Rob Paling took the direct free kick and got his shot on target making Gavin Saxby in AFC's goal get his body behind the ball and smother the danger.
Two minutes later Jake Currie won the first corner of the game over on the left, taken by Steve Carty right on the head of Currie, but his header was wayward and the danger was gone.


With little goalmouth action it wasn't until 27 minutes for the next opportunity. Jake Currie picking up the ball again at least 25 yards out, with a first time shot Saxby getting down well to his right and tipping the ball out for another Clipstone corner.
Five minutes later it was AFC to hit on the break, Danny Williams providing the cross for Dean Rick to try a overhead bicycle kick, which was mis-timed and the ball floated high and wide of the target.


The battle for supremacy was ongoing and a few late tackles towards the end of the first half were going in the favour of Clipstone.


Just as it looked like a goalless first half, just like the busses two came along within two minutes. AFC won a corner over on the right which was floated into the packed six yard box and with players kicking at air the ball fell at the feet of Dean Rick and he managed to beat the Clipstone defenders and put the visitors 1-0 up.


One minute is not a very long time in a football game, which is all that it took Clipstone to equalise.  Rob Paling found Callum Mawby who in turn found the league's top scorer Jamie Smith, and he showed why he is the top goal scorer with a first time shot which gave Saxby no chance of saving.
Half Time
Clipstone FC 1 AFC Mansfield 1
Just four mites into the second half saw AFC's Carl Haslam pick up the ball on the far left, he cut inside two defenders and fired a shot at goal, missing the right post by a yard, stating the visitor’s intentions, and making sure Clipstone knew they were in a game.
Two minutes later Clipstone were at the other end of the field with Matty Ord racing onto Brandon Shaws through ball.  He crossed for Jamie Smith who was just beaten to the ball by AFC captain Chris Timmons who had no option but to give away another Clipstone corner. This time Ash Kitchen was on hand to clear the danger.
Phil Buxton received the first yellow card of the game after an aerial challenge with Jamie Smith. The resulting free kick was directed to Jake Currie and again the visitors just beating the Clipstone forward and yet another Clipstone corner was awarded.
Matty Ord fired in the set piece and Chris Timmons rose highest and somehow managed to head over his own bar for yet another corner. this time Danny Tighe managed to clear.
On 55 minutes Jamie Smith again was running the AFC defenders ragged. He ran 20 yards with the ball and hit his shot which rebounded off an AFC defender into the path of Jake Currie who shot first time and again was blocked and this time cleared.
Clipstone were certainly on top and creating many more chances than their visitors. On 60 minutes another Clipstone corner was floated in from the right by Carty, right under the bar, with the ball bouncing on the goal line just for the defender on the post to make sure the ball did not pass him.
AFC made the first change of the game with Darren Bettison replacing Danny Williams on 63 minutes.
65 minutes Clipstone very nearly took the lead as Jake Currie picked up the loose ball over on the right, travelling at speed looked up and picked out Jamie Smith, and just as he was about to pull the trigger, as the ball was poked away from him by the AFC defender and the danger was extinguished.
A coming together of Joe Naylor and Clipstone captain Ash Rawson saw both players receiving a yellow card.
Just one minute later Carl Haslam thought he broke through the offside trap, and after hearing the referee's whistle fired the ball wide of the goal, and also received a caution.
Haslam did have the ball in the back of the Clipstone net just two minutes later with a powerful header after climbing over the top of Clipstone's Tom Carnall, free-kick to Clipstone.
Ash Kitchen came through the back of Jake Currie on the far left 35 yards out. After receiving treatment Rob Paling took the free kick, whipped in with pace which the visitors found difficult to deal with and the free ball flew into the path of Stu Hill with a first time volley very nearly tore a hole in the net and fire Clipstone into the lead. 78 minutes gone 2-1
Tom Carnall was on hand for a goal line clearance right at the death of the game but Clipstone held on for a well-deserved victory.
Full Time
Clipstone FC 2 AFC Mansfield 1


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Wednesday 8th October 2014
The Nottinghamshire Saturday Senior Cup
Round One
AFC Mansfield 2 – 0 Radcliffe Olympic
CHRIS TIMONS
Man of the Match
AFC Mansfield cruised into the next round of the Senior Cup with a goal in each half of a tie that should have seen a lot more goals.

AFC Mansfield without Joe Naylor and Adam Kimberley were dealt a blow in the warm up when Kyle Ludlow tweaked a hamstring and was replaced by Darren Bettison as a precaution.

The game also started late due to a floodlight generator malfunction that officials of the home side managed to overcome to get the game on, albeit 20 minutes late.

The Bulls seemed to want to make up for lost time as they peppered the Radcliffe goal in the opening 20 minutes. 

Chances went begging on two, six and ten minutes when Carl Haslam, Dean Rick and Jordan Vilums all missed gilt edged chances to put the home side in front.

Hadlee Dunne was at his best on 20 minutes turning Ricks 18 yard drive over the bar as the home side completely dominated the game.

Rick fired wide again on 30 minutes after being sent clear by Darren Bettison while at the other end a Chris Timons led back line snuffed out all Radcliffe’s attempted incursions.

Lee Potts did manage a shot at goal on 37 minutes but it was always rising over the bar.

Just when it looked as if poor finishing would frustrate the home side up popped ever reliable Dean Rick to drill the ball past Dunne from the edge of the box to send the home side in at the break one goal up.

The second half turned into the look of a training match with Radcliffe offering little threat and The Bulls struggling to raise the motivation for a game they were never going to lose.

A second goal came on 81 minutes when some neat footwork from Jordan Vilums saw him beat a defender and then round the keeper before firing home from a tight angle.

There will be much tougher tests to come in the coming weeks, one such test comes on Saturday when The Bulls face unbeaten Clipstone in the league.  They don’t come much tougher than that.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Bettison, Hollingworth, Kitchen Timons (c), Naylor D, Buxton, Tighe, Rick (Fuller-Nadin 84), Haslam (McLane 80), Vilums.  Sub not used: Short

Radcliffe Olympic: Dunne, Brindley, Bee (Morris 80), Winch (c), Adams, Sansome, O’Brien, Reeves, Potts, Griggs (Durham 80), Gamble.  Subs not used: Soiza & Williams

Referee: Mr Wayne Davenport (Retford)
Assistants: Mr Gavin Rice & Mr Robert Rushton

Attendance: 65


Man of the Match: Chris Timons
*****************
Saturday 4th October 2014
The Carlsberg FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Holbrook Sports 1 – 4 AFC Mansfield


AFC Mansfield progressed to The 1st Round of The FA Vase and in doing so gave Dean Short his first win as AFC Mansfield manager.

‘The Bulls’ welcomed back Joe Naylor, Darren Bettison and Kyle Ludlow who were all missing from the midweek defeat at Eccleshill.  Starting on the bench was new signing Nathan Hollingworth.

Kicking up the slope it wasn’t until the 15 minute that the visitors had a chance on goal, Dean Rick forcing a save out of Daniel Graves.  A minute later and Graves was down again this time denying Chris Timons from the edge of the box.

AFC Mansfield made the breakthrough on 25 minutes a trademark run from Carl Haslam took him past 3 players down the left flank and an inch perfect low cross gave Dean Rick the simplest of finishes to put ‘The Bulls’ in front.

The home side were using a physical approach to their tackling and this earned them a couple of yellow cards as they fought to hold the visitors back.

In a carbon copy move of the first goal Rick should have made it 2-0 but sliced his effort wide of the mark on the half hour.
The game remained at 0-1 going into the break but there was a sense of anticipation from the AFC fans that going down the slope would reap rewards for ‘The Bulls’.

This was to be the case as with only 3 minutes of the 2nd half gone Rick made it 0-2.  Racing onto a Joe Naylor through ball the striker beat both the Holbrook keeper Graves and captain Niall Mather to the ball and ended up stroking the ball into an empty net from 12 yards.

Paul Fisher had a chance to get Holbrook back into the game on 51 minutes but with the goal at his mercy swung a foot and completely missed Chilaka’s cross from the left.

Dean Rick went down in the box under Mathers challenge on 62 minutes with the assistants flag going up straight away to signal a spot kick.  Rick picked himself up and drove the ball past Graves to complete his hat trick.

A minute later and Man of the Match Carl Haslam saw his 15 yard effort superbly saved by Graves.  The home side did pull one back on 67 minutes, Isaac Minott getting the final touch in a goal mouth scramble.

A long throw from Ashley Kitchen was flicked on by Joe Naylor to Haslam who’s header was saved point blank by Graves to deny the wide man.

But Haslam was determined to have his goal and it duly came on 80 minutes.  Deciding to go it alone Haslam picked the ball up in his own half and went on a run that took him past four players.  When he reached the penalty box he proceeded to round keeper Graves and then calmly slid the ball home from a tight angle 12 yards out.  A truly wonderful goal and worthy of winning any game of football.

There was still time for some late drama and when Minott went down in the box the referee pointed to the spot.  Minott stepped up and struck the ball high and to the keepers right, but Gavin Saxby was having none of it and flew through the air to turn the goal bound effort over the bar with one hand.

The Bulls go through to the next round and will be eagerly waiting for the draw on Monday at noon.

Holbrook Sports: Graves, Fitzhugh, Dodds, Hayes, Mather (c), Peverley (Thompson 45), Ridgard, Hazeldine, Fisher, Minott, Chilaka (Black 72).  Subs not used: Hooley, Ross & Hallsworth.

Man of the Match
Carl Haslam
AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Tighe (Bettison 60), Kitchen, Ludlow, Timons (c) (Hollingworth 80), Naylor D, Buxton, Naylor J, Rick (Fuller-Nadin 84), Haslam, Vilums.  Subs not used: McLane & Short.

Referee: Mr Matthew Bacon

Attendance: 48


Man of the Match: Carl Haslam

******************
Wednesday 1st October 2014
The Toolstation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Eccleshill United 2 – 1 AFC Mansfield
Man of the Match
Carl Haslam
Dean Short’s tenure as AFC Mansfield manager started with a defeat at Eccleshill United on Wednesday night.  A 145 mile round trip was made longer by road closures works and a breakdown and saw ‘The Bulls’ arrive just 10 minutes before the scheduled kick-off.

The Mansfield side were without key players Joe Naylor, Kyle Ludlow, Adam Kimberley and Darren Bettison but gave debuts to new signings Jordan Vilums and Scott Rickards.

Despite the short warm up and after the first 10 minutes in which the home side poured down on the AFC Mansfield goal the visitors settled down.

Dean Rick volleyed wide on 11 minutes from a Danny Tighe through ball and Chris Timons looped his header just over a minute later.

A superb 40 yard ball from Tighe on 14 minutes was dummied by Rick into the path of Carl Haslam.  The wide man fired a stinging low volley from 15 yards that keeper Weston Murav did well to turn around the post.

‘The Bulls’ went behind on 17 minutes when John Rogers cross was turned into his own net by Danny McLane.

A 40 yard run from Haslam through the middle of the pitch and past 5 men was eventually bought to an end by Murav when he again denied the winger with another fine save.

The home side doubled their lead on 35 minutes when captain Charlie Flaherty picked the ball up 25 yards out, took a step forward and found the top corner with a superb drive.

The 2nd half belonged to ‘The Bulls’ and if not for some Alamo style defending from the home side the visitors would have made the long journey home with something to show for all their hard work.
Haslam fired over the bar on 50 minutes from a Danny Naylor through ball.  5 minutes later the visitors pulled a goal back Rick found Haslam on the edge of the box and when Murav could only parry his low drive Naylor was on hand to stroke the ball home from 6 yards.

A minute later Haslam had another effort saved by the Eccleshill keeper while at the other end Rogers fired wide from 12 yards.

Substitute Ryan Fuller-Nadin put Scott Rickards clear but his 20 yard effort flew over the bar.
AFC Mansfield were raiding down both flanks with Jordan Vilums and Carl Haslam tormenting the home defenders.  Another great cross from Haslam was tipped away from the head of Rick with a certain equaliser on the cards.

Ashley Kitchens long throws were a constant menace and Haslam fires wide on 75 minutes from one such throw.  Chris Timons hit the post with a header from another Kitchen throw on 80 minutes.

The work rate of Rickards and Vilums was a big plus for AFC Mansfield and at times Rickards was a different class from everybody on the field.

Rickards had the final chance for the visitors but fired wide from 12 yards on 88 minutes and despite being camped out in the Eccleshill half in the second half ‘The Bulls’ went home without a point.

Eccleshill United: Murau, Conde, Burros, Novotny, Mills, Flaherty (c) (Queere 80), Dixon (Sainvil 84), McCabe, Balis (Reis 70), Rosenstraugh, Rogers.  Subs not used: Cashen

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Tighe, McLane (Fuller-Nadin 45), Kitchen, Timons (c), Buxton, Vilums, Naylor D (Pereira 86), Rick (Short 75), Rickards, Haslam.

Referee: Mr Jamie Waters (West Yorks)

Assistants: Mr Michael Coles (West Yorks) & Mr Howard Young (West Yorks)

Man of the Match: Carl Haslam


Attendance: 61
*********************************
Saturday 20th September 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 3 – 1 AFC Emley


AFC Mansfield beat league leaders AFC Emley with 3 goals in the final 20 minutes after the visitors had gone in front in the first 5 minutes.

‘The Bulls’ had caretaker manager Jason Truscott in charge with U21 Assistant Manager Andy Wilson and 1st team coach Graeme Rodger by his side.  There were no major changes to the side with Dean Rick and Phil Buxton coming into the side to replace missing Joe Meehan and Adam Kimberley.

Truscott had the worst possible start when after just 5 minutes the ball dropped in front of Max Leonard 20 yards out.  The midfielder hit the ball immediately and it curled and dipped on its way to goal.  Gavin Saxby managed to get a hand to it but such was the ferocity of the shot it forced itself into the net.

The home side should have been back in it on 9 minutes when Man of the Match Joe Naylor squared the ball to Rick who fluffed his lines 4 yards out.  It was Joe Naylor who had the next chance 2 minutes later firing narrowly wide of the right hand post from the edge of the box.

Brother Danny saw his 20 yard volley whistle past the post as ‘The Bulls’ pushed forward.  In the 19th minute Emley captain stuck out an arm to stop the ball and the home side were awarded a spot kick.  Carl Haslam fired it down the middle with keeper Adam Lawlor saving with his feet before Haslam blasted the loose ball over the bar.

Ruben Jerome sliced a good chance wide of the mark on 27 minutes in a momentary lapse from the AFC Mansfield defense.

Danny Naylor showed excellent technique on 38 minutes when he hit Lawlor’s clearance first time on the half volley from 48 yards and with the keeper out of his box he was happy to see the ball go over the bar by inches.

The final chance of the half fell to Carl Haslam but it was a rather tame effort from the edge of the box straight at Lawlor.

At the beginning of the 2nd half Ruben Jerome should have doubled the visitors lead. 3 yards out he managed to lift the ball over the bar.

The home side picked up the pace and Danny Tighe hit the bar with a 25 yard free-kick and Phil Buxton saw his effort turned over by Lawlor after great work from Rick on the hour mark.

Buxton turned provider on 65 minutes delivering a great cross from the left for Rick to head wide from 7 yards.

The equaliser came on 70 minutes with a superb through ball from Joe Naylor finding Haslam on the left.  Haslam drifted past a defender before pulling the ball across the 6 yard box for Dean Rick to finish.

AFC Mansfield were awarded a soft penalty on 76 minutes Lawlor charging out to the edge of the box but Rick beat him to the ball and the keeper made contact with the striker.  This time Danny Tighe took the spot kick and made no mistake sending Lawlor the wrong way to put ‘The Bulls’ in front.

Another call for a spot kick soon after when Joe Naylor was bundled over from behind in what looked a clearer penalty than the one earlier but the referee waved away the appeals.

Young substitute George Camps scuffed his effort on 80 minutes and Haslam hit the side netting on 85 minutes as the home side dominated the game.

Carl Haslam sealed the win on 88 minutes when he went around the keeper twice in the box before firing past two players on the line to make it 3-1.

‘The Bulls’ now have a 10 day break while they continue their search for a new manager, but are comfortable in the knowledge that they have a good trio of Jason Truscott, Andy Wilson and Graeme Rodger in place to continue if necessary.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Tighe, Ludlow, Timons (c), Kitchen, Bettison, Buxton, Naylor D, Haslam, Naylor J, Rick (Camps 77).  Subs not used: Pereira, Sargent, McLane & Carver.

AFC Emley: Lawlor, Leech, Starkey, Tunnacliffe, Jerome S, Sykes (c), Townsend, Leonard (Kenworthy 83), Jerome R (Simpson 83), Hallam, Jordan (Perks 24).  Sub not used: Brook

Referee: Mr Martin Chester (Lincs)
Assistants: Mr John Chambers (Notts) & Mr Gregory Roberts (Sth Yorks).

Attendance: 117

Man of the Match: Joe Naylor


*******************
Wednesday 17th September 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 5 – 3 Hall Road Rangers
Man of the Match - Joe Naylor
Manager Micky Taylor went out on a winning note as AFC Mansfield completed their first double of the season with a home win over visitors Hall Road Rangers.  The game should have been all over in the first 20 minutes as ‘The Bulls’ completely overwhelmed their opponents.

Joe Naylor missed the easiest chance of the game after just 2 minutes scooping the ball over the bar from 2yards.  But the visitor’s goal didn’t hold out for much longer when Carl Haslam got behind them and drilled a 12 yard drive into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The lead was doubled on 6 minutes when Joe Naylor headed home from a Danny Tighe corner.

Luke Thompson had a rasping drive saved one handed by Gavin Saxby on 10 minutes but apart from that it was all AFC for the first 20 minutes.  Thompson’s game ended on 24 minutes when in a challenge with Bulls skipper both players went down injured.  The striker came off worse and was helped from the field.  

Timons seemed to be affected as well because a minute later Mark Rudd beat him to a through ball and slid the ball under the advancing Saxby to put the visitors back in the game.

Haslam should have restored the two goal advantage on 28 minutes with a superb curling shot that Rick Watson turned around the post.  On the half hour mark Tighe saw his low 20 yard effort shave the post.

The home side continued to dominate and Watson was again in action turning Tighes 25 yard free kick around the post on 38 minutes.  A minute late it was Joe Naylor’s turn to bring another good save out of Watson, the keeper tipping his 20 yard drive over the bar.

Naylor wasn’t to be denied and from the resulting corner he rose above the pack to head home ‘The Bulls’ third.

So the home side went in 3-1 up when in reality it should have been 5 or 6.  Eight minutes into the restart and the visitors pulled one back.  Kyle Ludlow’s back pass came up short and substitute Adam Foster fired past the stranded Saxby from 12 yards.

Haslam was denied again by the outstanding Watson another goalbound effort turned around the post by the keeper.

Hall Road pulled level on 63 minutes when Darren Rookes went past Ash Kitchen and smashed the ball past Saxby from just inside the box.

The visitors nearly completed a perfect turnaround when Foster fired over from 6 yards after Saxby had spilt Rudd’s driven effort.

The home side eventually woke up and a 74 Tighe minute corner was headed home by Man of the Match Joe Naylor to complete his hat-trick.

Five minutes later and a trademark 25 yard free-kick from Danny Tighe curled into the net and this time even Rick Watson couldn’t keep it out.

Haslam’s audacious 35 yard lob drifted wide with the keeper well beaten and an encouraging cameo performance from debutant Ryan Fuller-Nadin sent the faithful home happy.

AFC Mansfield now begin their search for their next manager and already the list of applicants is quite impressive.  In the meantime on Saturday U21 managers Jason Truscott and Andy Wilson will be in the hot seat along with 1st team coach Graeme Rodger for the visit of league leaders AFC Emley. 

Talk about a baptism of fire!

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Tighe (Pereira 80), Bettison, Ludlow, Timons (c), Kitchen, Naylor D, Meehan, Naylor J, Haslam (Fuller-Nadin 82), Kimberley (McLane 40).  Sub not used: Sargent.

Hall Road Rangers: Watson, Carter, Matthewson, Blount, McKay, Morrill, Rookes, Rudd, Thompson (Foster 24), O’Connell, Cox. Sub not used: Ombler

Referee: Mr Andrew Beckett (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Charles Creswell-Hibbert (Notts) & Mr Pete Lang (Derbys.)

Man of the Match: Joe Naylor


Attendance: 59
******************
Saturday 13th September 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Yorkshire Amateur 3 – 1 AFC Mansfield

‘The Bulls’ included 3 debutants on the bench and were missing regulars Dean Rick, Phil Buxton and Darren Bettison for their trip to Yorkshire Amateur.  It was no surprise when after 20 minutes they were 2-0 down. 

Adam Kimberley had the first chance of the game on 3 minutes, but his effort from outside the box was straight at keeper Suwara Bojang.  The home side opened the scoring on 6 minutes when Joel Hughes was given too much space in the box and went past Chris Timons and Kyle Ludlow before firing a low drive past Gavin Saxby  from 12 yards.

Carl Haslam had both legs sythed from under him by Chris Hitchings and then was punched three times by the same player as he tried to get up.  Amazingly the referee only showed a yellow to the home player and it seemed as if it was open season on AFC players after that.  Joe Naylor was elbowed in the back of the head and Danny Naylor was kicked while on the ground later in the game.

Hughes 2nd came on 21 minutes and again was allowed too much room in the box before turning Timons and squeezing the ball past Saxby at the near post.

At last AFC Mansfield began to wake up and Carl Haslam saw two efforts go narrowly wide before on 28 minutes he pulled a goal back.  Neat passing on the edge of the box from Kimberely and Joe Naylor set up Haslam to fire home from 10 yards.

‘The Bulls’ finished the half on top but could not find an equaliser.

Another setback for ‘The Bulls’ on 55 minutes when substitute Roy Stammer ponced on a loose ball to fire home from 15 yards.

Youngster Liam Carver on as a second half substitute fired over the bar after a good ball from Kimberley on 75 minutes and Haslam saw another effort saved by Bojung on 80 minutes but their was to be no comeback and the game finished in defeat for the Mansfield side.

The big talking point was the decision by both the management team and club to part company after 2 successful seasons.  Micky Taylor will take charge of his last game for the club on Wednesday night when they entertain Hall Road Rangers at The Forest Town Arena.

Yorkshire Amateur: Bosang, Harding, Hammond, Hill, Freeman, Hitchings, Heard Ca, Blakey, Heard Cr (Stammer 55), Hughes, Marsden.  Subs not used: Rose, Blair Mottley_Henry & Harding

Man of the Match
AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Wilson (Sargent 45), Kitchen, Ludlow, Timmons (C), Naylor D, Brewin, Naylor J, Pereira (Carver 45), Haslam, Kimberley.  Subs not used: Fuller-Nadin & Camps.

Referee: Mr R Taylor (Sth Yorks)
Assistants: Mr G Patterson & Miss L Browne

Attendance: 51


Man of the Match:Carl Haslam
*************************
Saturday 6th September 2014
The FA Carlsberg Vase 1st Qualifying Round
AFC Mansfield 3 – 2 Teversal


AFC Mansfield progressed to the next round of the FA Vase with a close odd goal in five win against local rivals Teversal in a hugely entertaining game at The Forest Town Arena.

Without central defender Ashley Kitchen due to work commitments Darren Bettison slotted into the heart of defence and produced a man of the match performance for the home side working tirelessly for 90 minutes.

Dean Rick had the first chance of the game on just 3 minutes, firing narrowly wide from a Joe Naylor layoff.  Jason Dawson had Teversal’s first chance shooting over the bar from the edge of the box on 12 minutes.

Rick went close again on 15 minutes with a looping header from a Phil Buxton cross.   The game was an evenly contested encounter at this stage with the middle of the park being the hot spot.  Teversal youngster Brad Cox working tirelessly to keep the Naylor brothers at bay.

Jimmy Adcock flashed a cross across the home box with only a touch needed to convert but no touch came.

‘The Bulls’ drew first blood on the half hour mark when Carl Haslam pounced on a defensive error on the half way line and raced down field before squaring to Rick for a simple finish inside the six yard box.  Some protests from the visitors bench for offside but they were waved away.

Haslam should have doubled the lead 5 minutes later as he turned neatly on the edge of the box but fired wide of the right hand post.

Teversal were back on level terms a minute later, Adcock sending Jason Dawson clear with the striker drilling a low drive past Gavin Saxby from 15 yards.

As the half came to a close Joe Naylor had his header easily saved by Simon Dye in the Teversal goalbut more work was needed from the home keeper Gaving Saxby who got down low to turn Kye Pilmore’s effort around the post.

The visitors started the brighter and went in front 5 minutes into the restart.  Jimmy Adcock pounced on some indecision at the back for AFC to slip the ball under the advancing Saxby.

The lead was short lived and after some sustained pressure on the visitors goal the ball fell to the feet of Carl Haslam who cut inside and curled a superb effort into the far right corner.

Dave Cockerill on as a sub entered the field to rapturous applause from the Teversal supporters and could have put his side in front on 65 minutes.  He turned neatly at the near post but drove his effort wide of the far post.

A moment of controversy on 72 minutes when Dean Rick raced to the by-line before cross for the onrushing Haslam to head past Dye nly to be bemused when the assistant raised a flag for offside in what looked like a perfectly good goal.

2 minutes later Haslam went down under a clumsy challenge but  the Referee waved away appeals for a spot kick.

‘The Bulls’ eventually got their reward for the increased pressure on 76 minutes.  Rick made another good run down the right and this time his low cross was unfortunately turned past his own keeper by Teversal Captain Jordan Schofield to put the home side through to the next round.

Saxby got down well to Mark Robinson’s drive on 82 minutes but the damage was done and AFC Mansfield now travel to Holbrook Sports in the next round on October 4th.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Buxton, Wilson (Tighe 57), Ludlow, Timons (c), Bettison, Naylor D, Naylor J, Rick, Haslam, Kimberley (Fearon 80).  Subs not used: Pereira, Plumbe & Bacon.

Teversal: Dye, Hauton, Vincent, Schofield, Staniforth (Fisher 73), Cox, Harris (Robinson 65), Dickinson, Dawson, Pilmore (Cockerill 57), Adcock.  Subs not used: Bunce & Tobin.

Referee: Mr James Shipley (Notts)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Smith (Notts) & Mr Ryan Bancroft (Notts)

Attendance: 136


Man of the Match: AFC Mansfield – Darren Bettison, Teversal – Brad Cox

************************************
Wednesday 3rd September 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 2 – 0 Dronfield Town
Man of the Match - Adam Kimberley
AFC Mansfield got back to winning ways with a goal in each half from Man of the Match Adam Kimberley.
‘The Bulls’ faced old rivals Dronfield Town for the first time since their CML days.  This Dronfield side was a much changed side from those days with the emphasis on youth clearly coming to the fore.
The home side largely dominated the first half but a combination of poor finishing and excellent defending kept them at bay.
On 10 minutes Carl Haslam should have put AFC in front but a superb sliding tackle from Jack Hague took the ball off the strikers feet just as he was about to shoot.  A minute later Chris Timons headed wide after a great delivery from Adam Kimberley’s free kick.
Haslam wasted another chance on 13 minutes blasting his effort way over the bar from just outside the box.  He was again denied by another excellent tackle this time from Bradley Gledhill on 20 minutes.
On 31 minutes Dronfield were dealt a blow when Danny Bent was replaced due to injury and 5 minutes later Nick Mulgrew went of with a bad head injury.
In between these two injuries AFC Mansfield went in front and what a goal it was.  A superb chipped pass from Ashley Kitchen was controlled by Adam Kimberley who turned and unleashed a 30 yard effort that flew into the top left hand corner of the net with keeper Richard Henson a mere spectator.
Henson did well to parry Joe Naylor’s effort on 38 minutes but when Buxton pulled the ball back for Brad Wilson the youngster fired wide from 12 yards.
Captain Chris Timons fired narrowly over from another excellent ball by Kimberley just before the break.
A more determined looking Dronfield took to the field in the second half  causing the AFC back line a few problems, but ultimately creating very few clear cut chances.  ‘The Bulls’ best chance in the opening 20 minutes of the 2nd half came on 55 minutes when Henson dived bravely at Haslam’s feet to again deny the striker.
AFC Mansfield doubled their lead on 74 minutes when Carl Haslam turned provider with a square pass to Kimberley after a great run that took him past 3 defenders.  Kimberley drilled the ball past Henson from just inside the box to double his tally.
The unfortunate Haslam then saw a goal chalked off after an offside flag denied him a deserved goal.
A flurry of substitutions in the final 10 minutes disjointed the game but the home side still had chances to score.  Joe Naylor headed wide from another good ball from Kimberley and Danny Plumbe saw his goal bound effort turned around the post by Henson in the dying minutes.
AFC Mansfield now await the visit of local rivals Teversal for The FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round and will be hoping to reverse last Saturday’s 3-2 loss at Carnarvon Street.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Buxton, Wilson, Ludlow, Timons (c), Kitchen, Naylor D (Plumbe 85), Bettison, Naylor J (Brewin 87), Haslam (Pereira 87), Kimberley.  Subs not used: Fearon & Bacon.
Dronfield Town: Henson, O’Kane, Butler (c), Sezerano, Gledhill, Hague, Pugh, Willis, Mulgrew (Dickinson 35), Bent (Savage 31), Mpwaya.  Subs not used: Bebbington & Whitehurst

Referee: Mr Paul Matthewson (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Neil Allsop & Mr Simon Kells
Attendance: 95
 Man of the Match: Adam Kimberley

***********************
Saturday 30th August 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Teversal 3 – 2 AFC Mansfield


‘The Bulls’ managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at Carnarvon Steet on Saturday.  Leading at the break with goals from Dean Rick and Joe Naylor AFC Mansfield never really got out of 2nd gear and that is how it remained in the second half.  Teversal had other ideas and the visitors conceded 3 goals from set pieces, two of them coming in the final 3 minutes.

With a chance to go to the top of the league with a win ‘The Bulls’ never looked like title contenders and some regrouping will need to be done before Wednesday’s home game against old rivals Dronfield Town. 

The visitors welcomed back Adam Kimberley and Carl Haslam to the starting line up, both players were missing from the 2-1 win at Worsbrough Bridge during the week and Man of the Match 17 year old Declan Brewin continued his impressive form on the left flank.

The first half seemed to have started well for The Bulls with Dean Rick having the ball in the net on just 4 minutes.  But an offside flag ruled the goal out.

On 8 minutes Callum Pursglove for Teversal saw his low cross go right across the face of goal with nobody able to get a finishing touch.  After 15 minutes Carl Haslam fired over the bar from the edge of the box.

AFC Mansfield went in front on 22 minutes when Adam Kimberley sent Haslam clear down the left flank.  His cross was met by Dean Rick and although Ryan Brooks managed to block his first attempt Rick was on hand to mop up the loose ball and tuck it away inside the six yard box.

Teversal were showing some resilience and on 28 minutes Oli Wood pulled the ball back for Jimmy Adcock who curled his effort narrowly over the bar.

The Bulls doubled their lead on 32 minutes from a Kimbelrey corner which was met by the head of Joe Naylor who found the top corner.  Teversal were battling hard and not making it easy for the visitors.  The score remained at 0-2 going into the break.

The 2nd half was less than 2 minutes old when Aiden Harris was brought down in the box by Kyle Ludlow and the home side had a penalty.  Blake Vincent confidently dispatched the spot kick and Teversal were back in the game.

The introduction of Dave Cockerill just before the hour mark was to have a profound impact on the game.  But before that Rick saw Brooks learn from his mistakes when on 73 minutes the keeper saved and then got down quickly to smother the loose ball before the striker could repeat his earlier goal.

Rick had another effort easily saved by Brooks on 82 minutes after a good ball from Declan Brewin.

Just when it looked as if the visitors would see the game out a corner on 88 minutes was met by Mark Parkes in an almost identical header as AFC Mansfield’s second goal.

Worse was to come for the visitors when a minute later a long free-kick was hoisted into the visitors box and despite a clear shove on Chris Timons by Dave Cockerill when the strikers header sailed into the far corner the referee signalled the winning goal for the home side.

AFC Mansfield had taken their foot off the pedal and had paid a heavy price, Teversal never gave up competing and in the end the hard work paid off.  It all makes for an intersting FA Vase encounter next week between the two sides at The Forest Town Arena, home ground of AFC Mansfield.

Teversal: Brooks, Parkes, Vincent, Staniforth, Scofield, Cox, Harris (Dawson 62), Dickinson, Wood (Cockerill 58), Adcock, Pursglove (Tobin 80).  Subs not used: Fisher & Hauton.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Buxton, Brewin, Ludlow, Timons (c), Kitchen, Naylor D, Naylor J, Rick, Haslam, Kimberley.  Subs not used: Wilson, Pereira, Green, Sargent & Bacon.

Referee: Mr Matthew Bacon
Assistants: Mr Stephen Sears & Mr Kelvin Wilson

Attendance: 114

Man of the Match: Declan Brewin

************************
Tuesday 26th August 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
Worsbrough Bridge 1 – 2 AFC Mansfield
The Bulls put in a superb 2nd half performance kicking up the slope at Worsbrough to earn all the points on Tuesday night.

AFC were missing talisman Carl Haslam and skilful midfielder Adam Kimberley, both having work commitments.  So promising U21 player Declan Brewin and Darren Bettison came into the starting line-up.  On the bench it was a debut for Thomas Pereira.

The visitors started brightly and in the 7th minute Dean Rick had his edge of the box drive parried by Jared Oxley in the Worsbrough goal.  Callum Green looked as if he would finish off the loose ball but Oxley bravely dived at his feet to deny the striker.


Worsbrough’s young side were energetic and their qick paced short passing game was causing problems for AFC.
Phil Buxton saw his 25yard free kick whistle past the far post on 17 minutes as AFC Mansfield looked the stronger of the two sides.

On the half hour mark Brad Kerr saw his free kick blocked twice by a resolute defence.  In fact Kerr was a constant threat but Man of the Match Kyle Ludlow did a great job in keeping the lively striker quiet.


Rick chipped an effort over the bar on 38 minutes from a Callum Green layoff.  The Bulls went behind on 41 minutes when a couple of individual errors saw the ball fall to the feet of Worsbrough’s new signing Kane Reece who confidently drilled the ball past Gaving Saxby from 15 yards.

So AFC went in at the break with literally a mountain to climb as they would be kicking up the slope in the second period.  But whatever was discussed in the dressing room it had the desired effect and Bulls came out charging.

Although not before Gaving Saxby had to make a superb one handed save to deny Kerr on 50 minutes.  Two minutes later the visitors were back on level terms, Ludlow crossed from the right and another neat pass from Green set up Rick who stroked the ball past Oxley.

Saxby was in action again on 57 minutes making a double save to deny Kerr and Broadbent.

The goal of the game came on the hour mark, Joe Naylor picking the ball up 25 yards out unleashed an unstoppable shot that dipped and swerved and although Oxley got a touch the power of the drive sent the ball deep into the back of the net.

Worsbrough’s lively youngsters remained a threat but by now the experience of Ludlow, Timons and Kitchen was starting to take its toll on the home attack.

Rick saw an effort saved easily by Oxley on 79 minutes and on 85 minutes Naylor thought he had a second goal only to see Oxley expertly turn the ball over the bar.

Declan Brewin hit the side netting on 86 minutes and the introduction of Thomas Pereira up front gave the home defence something to think about with his undoubted pace.

Worsbrough Bridge: Oxley, Warren, Thompson, Adgie, Wight (c), Evans, Reece, Broadbent, Kerr, Dixon, Colton.  Subs not used: Lane.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Buxton, Brewin, Ludlow, Timons (c), Kitchen, Naylor D, Naylor J, Rick, Green (Pereira 83), Bettison.  Subs not used: Wilson & Sargent.

Referee: Mr Steven Taylor (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr J Fewster & Mr J Gelder
Man of the Match

Attendance: 165

Man of the Match: Kyle Ludlow





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Saturday 23rd August 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 3 – 1 Hallam FC

AFC Mansfield eased into this home win with goals from Carl Haslam, Phil Buxton and Dean Rick.  Grant Allott did pull the visitors level at the start of the second half but the home sides attacking prowess was always going to prevail.

It was very much one way traffic in the first half, but very frustrating for ‘The Bulls’ as chance after chance went begging.  Carl Haslam had the perfect opportunity to set the home side on its way in just the 3rd minute but he lifted his 8yard effort high over the bar. 10 minutes later Ashley Kitchen saw his effort rise over the bar although the chance was not as clear cut.

A minute later and probably the best effort of the first half fell to Ben Kistell for the visitors who rattled the upright from 25 yards with Gavin Saxby beaten.

And so the chances kept coming, Haslam saw his looping header clear the bar from an excellent cross by Phil Buxton on 20 minutes and keeper Jamie Dean’s legs denied Joe Naylor a minute later.

Man of the Match Ashley Kitchen, made a surging run forward taking him past four defenders and the visitors were pleased to put his cross out for a corner.

Joe then missed an absolute sitter on 34 minutes, slicing the ball wide in front of an open goal 10 yards out.  Brother Danny Naylor forced Dean into a wonderful save on 39 minutes, his 30 yard low drive turned around the post at full stretch by the visiting keeper.

Just when they thought it would be deadlocked at half time Phil Buxton was adjudged to have been fouled.  The referee initially indicated a free-kick on the edge of the box but after consulting with his assistant signalled a penalty.  Carl Haslam stepped up and drilled the ball past Dean to give ‘The Bulls’ a deserved lead going into the break.

Hallam looked much brighter at the start of the second half and took the game to AFC Mansfield.  They were rewarded in the 50th minute when Kistell’s free-kick was parried by Saxby and Grant Allott drove the ball home from 6 yards.  A rare mistake at the back for the home side with TImons, Kitchen and Ludlow normally so frugal with chances.

Two minutes later Joe Naylor hooked a volley just over the bar from the edge of the box as the home side re-established its dominance.  Phil Buxton restored the lead on 58 minutes, finishing off a neat move involving Joe Naylor and Dean Rick by firing past Dean from 10 yards off a Rick low cross.

The points were secured on 65 minutes Joe Naylor involved again, this time laying the ball off for Rick to fire home a low shot from just outside the box.

Both teams made a raft of chances in the final 20 minutes but none of them produced any worthwhile chances on goal.  ‘The Bulls’ can’t rest on their laurels, as they travel to Worsborough Bridge on Tuesday night for their next league game.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Buxton, Wilson (Bettison 60), Ludlow, Timons (c), Kitchen, Naylor D, Naylor J, Rick, Haslam (Sargent 83), Kimberley (Brewin 78).  Subs not used: Tighe & Plumbe.

Hallam FC: Dean, Ramsden (Fairweather 77), Whitaker, Flannery, Shires, Rosser, Wade (Hambling 80), Mirfin, Kistell, Allott, Osborne (Greaves 70).  Subs not used: Sykes & Bark.

Referee: Mr Andrew Price (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Lee Davis (South Yorkshire) & Mr Pete Lang (Derbyshire)

Attendance: 110

Man of the Match: Ashley Kitchen

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Saturday 16th August 2014
The ToolStation
Northern Counties East League
Division One
Hall Road Rangers 0 – 6 AFC Mansfield



AFC Mansfield gained their first ever points in The Northern Counties East league and did it with some style, scoring six goals without reply, in a clinical display of attacking football.  Carl Haslam led the way with a brace and goals from Phil Buxton, Dean Rick, Darren Bettison and a superb headed goal from man of the match Chris Timons completed the tally.

‘The Bulls’ made their intentions clear in the opening minutes, Buxton seeing his low drive turned around the post after just 4 minutes.  Two minutes later Haslam fired wide after being sent clear by Adam Kimberley.

Gavin Saxby was called into the action on 10 minutes, saving superbly from a Luke Thompson strike.

The visitors were awarded a spot kick on 13 minutes when defender Danny Blount kicked Dena Rick in the head while attempting to clear a high bouncing ball.  Carl Haslam stepped up and slotted the ball home sending captain Rick Watson the wrong way.

James Gemmell had the chance to pull Hall Road level on 16 minutes but his edge of the box shot was always going wide.

A neat move down the right flank on 22 minutes gave ‘The Bulls’ a second goal.  A pass from Brad Wilson found Rick, the strikers knock on found Buxton in acres of space in the box and a clinical low drive gave Watson no chance.

Joe Naylor had the ball in the back of the net on the half hour mark only for it to be chalked off by the assistants flag.

Naylor fired over the bar on 36 minutes and at the other end Ben Kinsley mirrored Naylor’s effort.

Saxby was in action on 40 minutes making a fantastic double save.  Firstly he got down well to parry Thompson’s rasping drive and then recovered to turn Kinsley’s goal bound low drive around the post.

The second half started with a 10 minute spell of pressure from the home side.  AFC had to defend a series of corners but the only real save Saxby had to make was a good effort from Gemmell on 54 minutes.

‘The Bulls’ weathered the storm and struck back on 63 minutes when Buxton’s corner was met with a towering header from Chris Timons to make it 3-0.

Things imploded for the home side on 67 minutes when Danny Blount lashed out at Rick in full view of the referee and his assistant and a red card was the only possible outcome.  This left Hall Road with a mountain to climb.

Watson did well to save with his legs on 70 minutes after Haslam had sent Rick clear on goal.  After a flurry of substitutions from both sides the visitors made it 4-0 0n 83 minutes.  Rick this time converting another fine ball from Haslam.

Joe Naylor saw his header tipped over the bar by Watson on 86 minutes, but just a minute later Haslam fired home AFC Mansfield’s fifth with a stinging drive from the edge of the box.

The scoring was completed on 89 minutes when Darren Bettison drilled the ball home from just inside the box with the Hall Road defence all over the place.

AFC Mansfield will now face Hallam FC at home next Saturday and will be hoping this form continues.

Hall Road Rangers: Watson, Walsh, Morrill, Clement, Blount, Gibson, Rookes, Gemmell, Thompson, O’Connell, Kinsley.  Subs not used: Tyler & Matthewson.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Buxton (Tighe 82), Wilson, Ludlow, Timons, Kitchen (Fearon 78), Naylor D, Naylor J, Rick, Haslam, Kimberley (Bettison 74).  Subs not used: Bacon & Claridge

Referee: Mr Robert Woodburn (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Farr & Mr Matthew Maddison
Man of the Match

Attendance: 63


Man of the Match: Chris Timons





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Saturday 9th August 2014
The ToolStation Northern Counties East League
Division One
AFC Mansfield 0 – 1 Selby Town



AFC Mansfield were left deflated after Selby Town took all 3 points with a goal three minutes from time after looking the stronger side for much of the 2nd half.

It was substitute Asa Pardoe who rose above the pack to head home at the far post from a free-kick on the left flank.

It was the visitors though who started the game more brightly.  In fact, Selby dominated much of the first half and could have gone in front as early as the 4th minute.  A superb reaction save from Gavin Saxby to deny the head of Selby Captain Mick Jones.

10 minutes later and Danny Gray forced a superb one handed save out of Saxby to keep the scores level.  It was all Selby at this point and AFC were having difficulty dealing with the ariel strength of the visitors.

Gray was sent clear on 25 minutes and saw his low drive beat Saxby but also the far post.

The home sides only outlet seemed to be Carl Haslam who made several surging runs but never produced a final ball.
Gray thought he had scored on 35 minutes, crashing his header against the post from 6 yards.

‘The Bulls’ somehow got to half time with the scores 0-0 and some regrouping was needed.

The second half was much brighter for AFC, Carl Haslam forced Mark Wilberforce into a fine save on 50 minutes with a rasping 20 yard drive.

AFC Mansfield’s top goal scorer for the last 2 seasons Dean Rick was introduced on 51 minutes and immediately the home side looked more of a threat.  Rick on his way back from injury hit the post within 5 minutes of coming on and ‘The Bulls’ looked for an opener.

Haslam had his header turned over the bar by Wilberforce from a Danny Claridge cross on 56 minutes and 2 minutes later his 35 yard free kick was only parried by the keeper before being scrambled away for a corner by Jones.

Rick had two chances on 65 and 67 minutes respectively.  The first fired over the bar and the second hitting the side netting after turning two defenders.

A Haslam shot on 69 minutes was parried by Wilberforce with Joe Naylor following up to fire the ball home only to be greeted with an offside flag .

More chances went begging, Joe Naylor’s effort easily saved by Wilberforce and Adam Kimberley sending Rick clear to square to Haslam in the box.  A little too elaborate footwork from the striker and his eventual effort went sailing over the bar.

Just as the game looked as if it was heading for stalemate a needless free kick was given away near the left hand corner flag and when the ball came in Asa Pardoe met it with his head and the points were Selby’s.

AFC Mansfield: Saxby, Timons (c), Claridge (Kimberley 74), Ludlow, Kitchen, Buxton, Plumbe, Naylor J, Green (Rick 51), Bettison ( Naylor D 60).  Subs not used: Bacon & Brewin.

Selby Town: Wilberforce, Dickman, Binns, Jones (c), Horsman (Pardoe 74), O’Reilly, Forrester, Bennett, Robinson (Bunch 56), Gray, Kamara.  Subs not used: Muirhead & Archer.

Referee: Mr Josh Bramhall (South Yorkshire)
Assistants: Mr Steven Clarkson (South Yorkshire) & Mr Steven Lazenby (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 95

Man of the Match: Gavin Saxby

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Saturday 26 July 2014
Pre-season friendly
AFC Mansfield 1 - 1 Heanor Town


'The Bulls' proved to be a difficult hurdle for Heanor Town and it wasn't until 12 minutes from the end that the visitors managed to pull level through Sam Jones.

Joe Naylor had put the home side in front on 31 minutes heading home a Danny Claridge corner in front of a crowd of 112.

The game was physical and competitive and Sam Jones was yellow carded and asked by the referee to take a break as the tackling got out of hand at the end of the first half.

Joe Naylor produced a Man of the Match performance as he bossed the game from start to finish.

Heanor were much stronger in the second half and had chances to win the game. But a resolute Bulls defence superbly marshalled by captain Chris Timons had other ideas.

Liam Bacon making his debut from our promising U21 side was in fine form making several key saves.

AFC Mansfield: Bacon, Fearon, Claridge, Ludlow, Timons (c), Naylor D, Buxton, Naylor J, Somes, Bettison, Haslam.  Subs all used: Kimberely, Green, Robinson & Sargent.

Heanor Town: Deakin, Raven, Shaw (c), Marriott, Hawes, Strzyzkey, Benger, Moran, Ricketts, Jones, Piliero.  Subs all used: Stone, Holmes, Henshaw, McNicholas & Mogford.

Referee: Mr Tim Walker
Assistants: Mr Reece Davis & Mr Jack Carter

Attendance: 112

Man of the Match: Joe Naylor