BULLS CONVINCING WIN EVEN AFTER A STRING OF MISSED CHANCES

AFC MANSFIELD 2 V WORSBROUGH BRIDGE 1
NCEL 1ST DIVISIION 11 FEB 2015----7.45PM

BULLS ARENA

This game was a one sided affair that should have resulted in a larger margin of victory for the Bulls of AFC. Its always difficult to see how a manager will see this whether it was a cracking home performance or a sloppy one due to the number of missed chance for AFC from good scoring positions.
Dec Lycett had given Worsbrough the lead after 11 minutes thanks to good work at the back post and thats the way it stayed at half time even though Mansfield had applied constant pressure for the remainder of the half.

THE BULLS ON AN UPWARD CYCLE

The second period started in a very similar pattern and it was Mansfield who finally levelled when Dean Rick headed back towards goal from the back post and with the ball looking to be cleared on the line it was assistant referee Stephen Lazenby who bravely signalled the whole of the ball had crossed the line to give The Bulls an equaliser on 54 minutes.  The winning goal came on 65 minutes from ex Stag, Spireite and Hull City livewire Ryan Williams and after that apart from the odd break away from Worsbrough it remained a game in which AFC Mansfield were always the team with the upper hand indeed an exquisite move on 80 minutes saw the finish from Williams look goal bound but strike the bar from the edge of the box.

AFC MANAGER RUDI FUNK KEEPS AN EYE ON PROCEEDINGS

AFC move back up to fourth and the promotion push is on although tonight should have been more convincing those three points were bagged for the cause.
This was the first visit while doing the blog to the Forest Town Arena, even though I have made fair few previous visits.  The clue is there in the title of the ground with the former Forest Town from CMFL days having played here.  The Bulls have resided here for their short life and progress through The CMFL and now into the NCEL.  The club is a tremendous set up but of course separate to AFC.  The directors of AFC Mansfield have invested on the improved changing room facilities and the Bulls tea bar which always has a couple of welcoming ladies serving and tonight's 'bovril' was as good as any where this season so far.
Before the game it was good to catch up with an old mate from my ground travels Nigel who is Worsbrough Bridges goal keeping coach and Andrew Saunders director of AFC Mansfield for a quick footie chat.
The ground itself, club house aside, is disappointing for the fact that supporters are so far away from the game and viewing is poor.  Its effectively a three sided affair surrounded by an old style tarmac cambered cycle track with at points 4-5 foot high meshed fencing with down the main touchline the dug outs blocking the view at ground level.  There is a small atcost stand and to the side the steeped terrace which is split into standing and red tip up seats.  Behind these are a high view standing area in front of the club and conservatory which probably offer the best view of proceedings although by now you are probably 50-60 yards away from the near touchline.

THE BULLS COMMUNITY CLUB WITH A VARIETY OF AGE RANGED TEAMS

Still at the moment needs must and AFC are storming on towards a possible promotion to the premier division and with a steadily increasing attendance recently there was a further 74 here tonight for this midweek encounter.  Over the last few games I have seen AFC Mansfield play in it has been worth the effort just to see pocket dynamo Ryan Williams who continues to espouse a youthful enthusiasm for the game, a delight.