August 1st 2009 Part Two
Saturday 1st August 2009, Pre Season FriendlyField Mill, Quarry Lane, Mansfield
Mansfield Town (1) 1 (Clare)
Hartlepool United (1) 2 (McSweeney, Larkin)
Admission: £10 or free to season ticket holders.
Attendance: 1798 (inc. 34 from Hartlepool)
Keith Haslam, I've gorra beef wi' thee!Because of the former Stags chairman being a prat about land rental issues relating to the car park at Field Mill (causing the spaces available to be slashed to approximately a third of what they were before), you now need a car park season ticket to take your car to the ground ... and even then those tickets are now all sold out.
So on rainy days (take today for example) this means driving round trying to find a space elsewhere then route marching to the ground through all kinds of weather, while hundreds of places in the club car park 'forbidden zone' stand empty.
Personally I've always parked at one of two nearby spots on match days at t'Mill in the past, but now the overspill drivers from the car park are wont to take those unless I'm early.
Be early, I hear people say.
And do what exactly?
A pint or two in the Sandy Pate Bar would be great, but drinking and driving is a big no, no.
Walk or use public transport, say others.
Hmm, not an option for all of us.
Mansfield Town fans in the main, are spread around north/west Notts and the edge of the Derbyshire border, those who travel from outside Mansfield outnumber those from within the town itself.
Using public transport to get back to my north Notts des res from Field Mill takes me ten minutes more than it did to get home from a trip to north London to see Arsenal play, once I've buggered about with the train and bus timetables its a long slog for such a short journey.
So I go by car out of necessity.
So on rainy days (take today for example) this means driving round trying to find a space elsewhere then route marching to the ground through all kinds of weather, while hundreds of places in the club car park 'forbidden zone' stand empty.
Personally I've always parked at one of two nearby spots on match days at t'Mill in the past, but now the overspill drivers from the car park are wont to take those unless I'm early.
Be early, I hear people say.
And do what exactly?
A pint or two in the Sandy Pate Bar would be great, but drinking and driving is a big no, no.
Walk or use public transport, say others.
Hmm, not an option for all of us.
Mansfield Town fans in the main, are spread around north/west Notts and the edge of the Derbyshire border, those who travel from outside Mansfield outnumber those from within the town itself.
Using public transport to get back to my north Notts des res from Field Mill takes me ten minutes more than it did to get home from a trip to north London to see Arsenal play, once I've buggered about with the train and bus timetables its a long slog for such a short journey.
So I go by car out of necessity.
"If you still hate Haslam clap your hands!"
Away from the elements up in the West Stand panoramic view seats, I spotted that my old mate Dan Westwell (above) is taking pictures at the Stags again this season after being banned by the previous regime for displaying an 'Haslam Out' screen saver on his laptop at a game.Along with the work of Richard Parkes (another old friend) who also works as a club photographer, Stags fans are really spoilt for choice by the great pictures from games that are reproduced on Dan and Richard's respective websites.
I might even post a link to them one day (for a small consideration - ahem).
Above we see Danny sat watching the game, on his own, in complete isolation, in the pouring rain.
In his previous life as the Follow The Yellow Brick Road fanzine team goalkeeper, while the outfield players racked up untold amounts of goals against opposition teams (they were very successful and even won a supporters team cup final at Wembley once), little Daniel would be stood at the back, on his own, in complete isolation, often in the pouring rain.
At least the eternal loner gets to sit down these days ;-p
Click on team sheet for enlarged detailsThe main event.
Prior to kick off there was an immaculately observed minutes silence held out of respect to Sir Bobby Robson, you wouldn't have expected anything else, the man was universally popular and loved. Uniquely amongst football fans in this country it is a genuine affection that transcends above inter club rivalries.Daryl Clare fired the Stags home on approximately 24 minutes, he looked sharp and nearly back to his best form all afternoon. He's peaking at just the right time with the Conference season starting for real on Saturday.
The poachers goal, the constant menace in the box, keeping the Pools keeper busy from all kinds of distances, thundering a free kick that Scott Flinders did really well to tip over, lobbing Flinders when he advanced too far from his line, Clare showed the full repotoire of tricks he has in his locker.
David Holdsworth bought Daryl Clare in to score goals, I'm sure he will too, many of them.
And with Rob Duffy as a foil and Kyle Perry as a one man battering ram beside him I don't think there will be too many clean sheets kept against the Stags this season.
Though I could be ever so slightly biased.
Youth player Johnathan Ventrella (no shirt number allocated to him yet, but it can't be long coming) showed a lot of maturity and composure on his first team début. He received a standing ovation when he left the field on 80 minutes ... a well deserved one.
Back to the match ... before half time Marriott in the Stags goal combined with his defence to completely mess up dealing with a cross and left Leon McSweeney the easiest of jobs to sweep the ball home into a gaping empty net for the equaliser.
On the hour Tim Sandecombe replaced Marriott in goal.
Hmm, anything the first choice could do his understudy could emulate with interest.
Sandecombe charged to the edge of the box to challenge an Hartlepool player and seemed to forget he was meant to be guarding the goal for a moment, then he hesitated, then continued his run again ... The ball sailed over his head and though Luke Graham did very well to hook it off the line, Colin Larkin (who else) was stood by to latch on to the ball and smash it into the roof of the net, something he was used to doing regularly at Field Mill when he played for the Stags.
It's written somewhere in the small print of the FA rule book that ex strikers returning to Mansfield must score against them.
A good run out for both teams all told. I'm not sure how 'full strength' the visitors were or not today but the Stags rested a few players for the game and all 19 of those named on the above team sheet played some part.
Two games in one day, for a total outlay £1.50, a quid for a half time draw ticket at Field Mill (I never win anything) and 50p for a steaming mug off coffee at Bilsthorpe, plus a few quid on petrol.
Thanks Philip for the loan of your Stags season ticket. I've bought one at both Hearts and Worksop Town for this coming season, owning three would just be too extravagent, even for me. Besides someone is going to have to pay on the day when they go to Field Mill this season to help cash flow.
*NOTE: The Monday 3rd August Pre Season Friendly, Mansfield Town v Ilkeston Town is OFF.
