Friday 20th April 2012, at the One Call Stadium/Field MillBlue Square Bet Premier
Mansfield Town (1) 2
Anthony Howell 13, Alan Marriott 61
Wrexham (0) 0
Admission £18 (but the ticket was a birthday present),
Programme £3, Attendance 3,665 (184 away fans)
Mansfield TownMarriott, Riley, O'Neill, Sutton, Geohaghan, Stevenson, Murray, Howell (Andrew 87mins), Briscoe (Rhead 82mins), Dyer, Meikle
Unused Subs - Redmond, Roberts, Hutchinson
Wrexham
Mayebi, Ashton, Creighton, Wright, Harris (Leslie 68mins ), Keates, Knight-Percival, Clarke, Wright (Cieslewicz 68mins ), Speight (Morrell 76mins), Ogleby
Unused Subs - Maxwell, Westwood
Anthony Howell opened the scoring for Mansfield in the 13th minute, when he headed home an Exodus Geohaghan throw in and made the holder of the Golden Goal ticket pictured above *very* rich as a consequence.Thanks Anthony, I'm very grateful!!!
The Stags second goal came on 61 minutes, when their goalkeeper Alan Marriott punted a long kick up the field, from inside his own area, which bounced 25 yards out from the Wrexham goal, over the visiting keeper's head and into the back of the net, making Joslain Mayebi, who has a tendency to come too far off of his line, look like a a right pillock as a consequence.
Both teams had already qualified for the BSBP play offs, but tonight's win, which saw the home side complete the double this season over their promotion rivals from North Wales; ensured Mansfield will now finish third in the table. Which will give them home advantage in the 2nd leg of the semi finals.Defeat at a rain lashed One Call Stadium/Field Mill*, means that Wrexham have gone five consecutive games without a win, whilst the Stags, who drew far too many games earlier in the season, have now won 12 games out of their last 14.
If these two sides reach the play off final and play each other again this season, I would expect it to be a 'slightly' more up tempo game than tonight's was.Given that both clubs already knew they had qualified and Wrexham are guaranteed second spot in the division while Mansfield needed just a point from their last two games to clinch third place, well ... would you risk getting injured on a difficult surface, on a very wet night, if you were playing under those circumstances?
No, me neither!
That said, the Stags thoroughly warranted their win over the Dragons and did a professional job on them tonight, dominating the lions share of possession and bossing their lethargic opponents.
Next seasons new home and away kits
In his post match analysis, Mark Currie of the Daily Post, a North Wales publication said:"Out-classed, out-played and out-gunned, Wrexham looked anything but a promotion-chasing side at Mansfield Town tonight as they were soundly beaten by one of their chief rivals for a return to the Football League."
If that's what the opposition are saying, then I'm happy to endorse that overview of the night's events.
Mansfield have one final remaining BSBP fixture to complete, away at Kidderminster Harriers next Saturday, before the play off semi finals commence.
Tomorrow, York City, Kidderminster Harriers, Luton Town and Southport will be hoping to clinch the two remaining places.
Luton are actually at home to Kidderminster, York travel to Braintree Town and Southport are at home to Tamworth.
"Right lads, you three jump him and pin him down while I grab his swag bag"
Note* I didn't take many pictures tonight, from the upper tier luxury of the West Stand, with it's unspoilt panoramic views.I've got an half decent camera these days and once the rain really started gritting it's teeth, I decided against using it and risking water damage.
Next up:
Tomorrow, I'm giving my son a lift back to Bedfordshire Uni. after his prolonged Easter break.
So, I'll either go to Bedford Town v Bashley or Luton Town v Kidderminster Harriers, while I'm down that way ... weather permitting, of course.
