AFC Mansfield 2 v Teversal 1 - NCEL Div 1

A brief overview of...

Wednesday 16th September 2015

at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone FC
Toolstation NCEL Division 1
AFC Mansfield (1) 2
Grant Allott 22
Dean Rick 77
Teversal (0) 1
Brett Watson 87

AFC Mansfield manager - Rudy Funk
Delighted with the three points.

Profligate finishing, particularly in the second half, cost Teversal at least a point, as a couple of absolute sitters went begging for the visitors, who had to be content with a consolation goal three minutes from time for their efforts.
This Notts derby, was very physical at times, with no quarter given.
Come the 90+ minute mark, the match referee Josh Bramhall, probably wished that he had clamped down on some of the heavier challenges and 'gamesmanship' early in the game, to prevent the escalation of 'rough house' stuff that ensued.

Dean Rick nets AFC Mansfield's second goal.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Westwell

In the 22nd minute, Grant Allott finished well, with an angled shot from the right hand side of the 'Tevie' penalty area, to give the Bulls the lead, but another 55 minutes of this slugging match had elapsed, before Mansfield eventually made the game (relatively) safe, when Dean Rick bundled the ball home from close range, after Craig Mitchell had delivered a great cross to the near post from out on the right wing. 

Rick's predatory instincts looked to have won the day for the 'home' side (playing on Clipstone's ground tonight), but Teversal had other ideas and the Bulls were made to scrap until the very end, when Brett Watson netted a late goal.

AFC Mansfield 2 v Teversal 1

This was a niggly, bad tempered and scrappy encounter at times.

As a spectacle, the game would certainly have benefitted from some more assertive refereeing, to set a precedent.
But sometimes, when you cut footballers a bit of slack and give them some leeway, unfortunately this is what happens.

However; although they had to resort to claiming an 'ugly win', Rudy Funk's men now sit proudly at the top of the NCEL Division 1 table tonight, so all the aches and bruises they'll have in the morning will have been worth it.

And now, for your entertainment, I will close this hastily scrawled, semi articulate version of events at the Worksop Van Hire Stadium, with some (co)incidental music.