Mansfield Town 8 v Barrow 1 - BSBP

Saturday 9th February 2013
at Field Mill (AKA the One Call Stadium)
Blue Square Bet Premier
Mansfield Town (5) 8
Lee Stevenson 8, 68,
Matt Green 23 pen, 32, 52 pen,
Colin 'Junior' Daniel 30,
Adam Murray 43,
Anthony Howell 70
Barrow (1) 1
Danny Rowe pen
Barrow had two players today called Danny Rowe, the one who scored was Danny L Rowe, the one who was substituted was Danny M Rowe.
Admission £17 (West Stand Lower), Programme £3
Attendance 2,226 (82 from Barrow)

Mansfield Town 
1 Marriott, 4 Dempster, 5 Jones, 17 Beevers, 29 Jennings,
13 Howell, 21 Murray (14 Clements - 71 mins ),
26 Stevenson, 31 Daniel (12 Wright - 66 mins ),
10 Green (16 Rhead - 60 mins ), 11 Briscoe
Unused Subs
2 Sutton, 7 Meikle
Barrow 
21 Pearson,2 Flynn, 3 Skelton, 5 Pearson, 20 Eckersley,
6 Owen, 7 Rutherford, 11 Rowe (22 McConville - 73 mins),
14 Harvey, 9 Boyes (McEvilly - 74 mins), 10 Rowe
Unused Subs
19 Hibbert, 13 Hunter

Last season, Barrow lost 7-0 against Mansfield Town at Field Mill.
It was, up until this afternoon, their record worst ever defeat.
On Tuesday night, when I watched Barrow, losing 2-0 against Gainsborough Trinity, in the FA Trophy, at the Northolme; it was evident that both of their full backs liked to get up to join the attack, but weren't always (if ever) tracking back.
Today 'the Bluebirds' goalkeeper, Shaun Pearson, must've been wondering where the rest of his defence had buggered off to as well.

I've read elsewhere, that 8-1 is the Stags record winning scoreline of all time, but that isn't true.
They did actually score 9 against Rotherham United back in the 1930's, though it was still a 7 goal winning margin by virtue of the Millers scoring twice.
One person who was probably at that game is Martin Shaw.
Here, for your enjoyment, enlightenment and entertainment, is the link to Martin's excellent and detailed report from this afternoon's Mansfield Town v Barrow game at Field Mill, AKA the One Call Stadium, AAKA the One Call Girl Stadium by several mischievous 'wits'.
Good work Martin!
Martin Shaw's match report, reproduced from Stagsnet.

8-1 with twenty minutes still to go

I nearly went somewhere else today instead, but I felt flush after leaving last night's Harworth Colliery FC Fund Raising Race Night a massive £8 in profit, so I treated myself to an afternoon at the home of the Mighty Stags ... and I'm really glad I did.
I've committed myself to being on duty with Harworth Colliery's first team and under 19s on match days, until the end of the season, so I don't get down to see the Stags as often as I usually would.
And I'm really grateful that they were courteous enough to save a performance like today's, until Harworth had a blank Saturday. 

Mansfield now sit just outside the play off positions, but have games in hand over all of the teams above them.
Obviously, points in the bag are preferable to games in hand, but ... should they win them all, the Stags will be level with league leaders Grimsby Town, who have to visit Field Mill in a rearranged game next month.
Is it time to start believing that Mansfield Town could be a Football League club again, come the end of April?
Possibly.
Personally, I think cautious optimism is required for a short while longer yet ... and then we can all start going mental, at the prospect of all those exotic away trips, to the bright lights of Accrington, Exeter and Rochdale again.

Tonight, the Mansfield Chronicle & Advertiser (the Chad), said of this afternoon's game that the Stags had unadulterated venom flowing through their veins.
Hmm, that might sound a bit OTT, but it isn't.
They were phenomenal and unstoppable ... ask Shaun Pearson. At 8-1 up with 20 minutes to go, Paul Cox's side still kept battering away at his goal and when the final whistle sounded, Barrow would've known that they were very fortunate, not to have conceded double figures today.
Tuesday night at Newport County's new ground, Rodney Park, will be a sterner test for the Stags than they faced today, while Barrow will be at Southport on the same night.
Going by what I saw today, neither of those games will end goalless!

Footnote:
I've cheated a bit, by putting a link to my friend Martin's match report on THE66POW instead of posting my own, but my reasons for doing this are two fold:
1) His report is excellent.
& 2) When my blog host crashed and deleted four reports I'd written this week, instead of uploading and posting them, I didn't have the heart or inclination to sit up all night rewriting them all.
 
Next up:
Monday night, Harworth Colliery U19 (who wear a Stags inspired yellow and blue kit) v Basford United U19, at the Recreation Ground, Scrooby Road, Bircotes, DN11 8JT. Kick off is at 7.45pm, Admission £2, Programmes £1, the bar is open (as always), hot food and drink available in the Pavilion. You know you want to ... and there is nothing worth watching on TV that night.
Extra Footnote. 
Added Monday 11th February 2013.
Harworth U19 v Basford U19 and Staveley U19 v Sheffield U19, are both off due to the weather being crap again.