Handsworth 2 v AFC Mansfield 2 - NCEL Prem

Tuesday 10th September 2019
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
at Sandy Lane, Worksop
Handsworth (0) 2
Lewis Francis 63, 79
AFC Mansfield (1) 2
Ross Duggan 11
Jack Warner 58
Attendance: 109

Handsworth:
Townsend, Smith, Shaw, Parkin (Hobson 65), Dacre, Kay, Mitchell, Mackie (Varley 80), Francis, Grant (Howarth 75), Thornton (C)
Unused subs - Walton, Sheppard
AFC Mansfield:
Warhurst (GK), Hough, Webster, McGuire, Lucas, Hague, Darker (Williams 71), Buxton (C), Duggan, Warner (McMillan 71), Warwick (Wright 87)
Unused subs - Slone, Stancliffe

While the Bulls were defeated 4-1 on Saturday, against a strong Barwell side at Kirkby Road, in the FA Cup first qualifying round, Handsworth had a blank weekend, due to them having players unavailable due to international call ups... or something like that.
A draw was a fair result tonight, all told, as the visitors called the shots during the earlier exchanges of the game, but then the Ambers put in a determined effort to overturn a two goal deficit after the break.

Former Handsworth player Tom Duggan, gave Mansfield the lead in the eleventh minute, when he crashed an emphatic angled strike past Ben Townsend, from just outside the left hand side of the six yard box.
Though Mansfield were pressing to increase their advantage, Handsworth went close at the other end too, with Joe Parkin and Lewis Francis both narrowly failing to add the finishing touch to an attack through the right channel.

Handsworth v Shelley

Anthony Mackie fed the ball forward to Marley Grant, who took it past two defenders, before curling his shot past Hugo Warhurst, but also several  inchespast the right hand upright
HT: Ambers 0 v Bulls 1
It came as no surprise when my erstwhile and jovial companion for the night, Graham Slesser, ended up with the half time draw ticket numbered 666... 'twas good to see you again pal!

Grant went to ground under a challenge just inside the Bulls area, but the match referee was closer to the incident and had a better view of it than me... and he was unmoved, waving any penalty claims away, as the game continued.
Duggan teed up a shot for Jack Warner, who put the visitors two in front in the fifty eighth minute, with a goal on his Mansfield debut.
But in response to conceding second goal, the hosts rolled their sleeves up and applied themselves doggedly, to the task of salvaging at least a draw.

Francis reacted quickly when Joe Thornton's shot deflected into his path... and crashed the ball into the roof of the net, just five minutes after Warner's strike, to set up a grandstand finale to the game, as Handsworth seized the initiative and completed the comeback that their efforts warranted, when Harry Mitchell's strike glanced off a visiting defender towards Francis, who applied the finishing touch once again.
FT: Handsworth 2 v AFC Mansfield 2

AFC Mansfield will face their nearby neighbours: Rainworth Miners Welfare, at the Forest Town Arena on Saturday, in the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round; while Handsworth's home tie against Glasshoughton Welfare in the same competition, is being played the following afternoon.
Which of course, presents you with an opportunity to watch both games. So why don't you all treat yourselves? Because I know that you're sorely tempted.