BULLS CRASH OUT OF LEAGUE CUP TO KNARESBOROUGH

AFC MANSFIELD 1 V KNARESBOROUGH TOWN 2
NCEL LEAGUE CUP ROUND 3 @ FOREST TOWN ARENA
2 DECEMBER 2015 --- 7.45PM

FOREST TOWN ARENA BEFORE THE GAMES COMMENCMENT

A defiant Knaresborough put AFC Mansfield in this often feisty League Cup tie, a result that has seen The Bulls also lose in the league to fellow title challengers AFC Emley and in the vase to Alsager all in the space of a week.  This games further hampered their efforts with two sending's off in a bad tempered second period.
A poor week of weather had put this game in doubt but thankfully the good drainage that's normally part of the Forest Town Arena came to the fore and with no major downpour on the day it was safe for Knaresborough to make the long mid week rush hour trip to Nottinghamshire.  The blog will not re-cover the ground etc as a few visits over the last few seasons including last month have covered the intricacies of the arena. 

WAITING FOR A START TO THE ACTION THE MAIN STAND

A busy rush hour journey by public transport finished at Forest Town with the chance to say hi to home secretary Pete Craggs who was taking up the same option of arrival.  Early arrival allowed time for a visit to Bullys Snack Bar for a chip cob with peas, back to cob territory here.  The placed order was soon ready but allowed me the chance to take a few pictures of which I have to say its getting harder to cover any original ones having featured the ground so many times, so apologies if I have still missed a good one out.  Before the game there was also the chance to have a quick catch up with the ever amiable Bulls manager Rudy Funk.  Team line ups gathered the blog made its way around to the entrance to pay up and purchase tonight's programme and also to catch up with home Chairman Andrew Saunders.  Alongside a few hoppers was Mr Blog man himself 'The 66 POW' and while the quick greeting was undertaken the blog also met Paul a Leeds Utd home and away supporter and now ground collector in the non league scene.  As ever it is always great to have a chat with a fellow hopper and having spent the game swapping stories the blog picked up some good tips with regards to grounds it had not visited including The Northern League.
A small crowd of 59 had gathered for this game and the good side it was probably a few more than the home officials expected and included a nice little following from North Yorkshire, well done guys your efforts proved worthwhile.
The first half was and entertaining affair viewed from the terraced decking area and on 39 minutes it was the visitors who shocked AFC when Will Lenehan headed home and thats the way we went into the break.
Around the start of the second half it was time to book the taxi for a short journey back to local bus stop to pick up the late night special back to base .
The second half went wrong for Mansfield inside 4 minutes when a far post cross from Daniel McDaid was met by Gary Collier and home defender Luke Jeffs who was adjudged to have got the final touch to send the ball into The Bulls goal.
This was a big shock to AFC and the game then seemed to develop a tetchiness and with a fair bit of dissent aimed towards the referee it was looking a safe bet that a red card would be produced.  Two were to follow in quick succession and indeed a third could also have happened when home keeper Jason White collided into a break away Knaresborough attacker.  The referee saw it as a equal clash something that saved the game from teetering on a potential abandonment.
To the sending's off and Craig Mitchell had notched a goal to give Mansfield a chance but was then dismissed a few minutes later for a second yellow for dissent.  AFC were further reduced in stock when Perry Marriott took away George Eustance's legs as he was about to fire home, White pulled off a good save to his right from the offended players spot kick but Marriott continued his protest and referee Ashley Guest showed a second yellow followed of course by a red card.
In the closing minutes Ryan Williams went close to and equaliser for the home side that would have forced the game into extra time. 
Disappointing loss for Mansfield who with a full compliment on the pitch may well have won this encounter however that takes nothing away from Knaresborough who will be more than satisfied with this midweek cup victory however I'm sure they will hope for a home draw in the next round!

THE LONELY LIFE OF A HOPPER NIGHTIME SUBURBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT
FOR THE TRANSPORT END PICTURE