We all stand together: LATE WINNER

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 1 GRAHAM STREET PRIMS 0

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

27 JANUARY 2024 --- 2PM

MAX DENTON IN MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V GRAHAM ST PRIMS

Aaron Carrington stepped up to head home the winner for Mansfield Hosiery Mills with two minutes remaining of a highly entertaining battle against high flying Graham St Prims which had looked destined to be one of those exciting 0-0 encounters.

FINGERTIP SAVE FROM PRIMS KEEPER JACK MORLEY

Todays trip was again by cheeky taxi both ways and with not too long to spare in time the much relegated fish and chips reviews were nowhere near being reinstated never mind the obligatory trip to a Coop which also fell by the wayside. After last weeks blank Saturday it was good to be at a game and a re visit to The Fieldings.

CHASE IS ON FOR SUTER

This week is deemed to be a match photo special and with no travelling to complain of have I got enough waffle to fill between the pictures? Probably not!

MILLS IN CONTROL

A usual pleasant greeting was only let down slightly by the non appearance of four legged gate operator Ted who apparently had opted for a lazy warm afternoon on the bed back at base. Entrance paid and a go on the scratch card led to an early greeting to assistant referee Mark Grayling who was emitting bright light from his official day-glo tracksuit with bright luminous sections.

THE EYES HAVE IT

A catch up with Mills manager Mark Turner for the team details and it was off to obtain a couple of chocolate bars from the lovely little snack bar here always nicely operated for any hoppers who are thinking of making the trip to Sutton in Ashfield.

EARLY ACTION

So how's it going? Only a stack load of pictures to still write around, moving on.

MARK GRAYLING INTO THE SUN

The game itself pitted high flying Prims against Mills who are struggling at the wrong end of the table. But for purely romantic non league purposes these two really have some evocative names but in footballing terms I expected the Derby based visitors to be too strong for the home side. Footballs a funny old game, somebody once said, and how right they are.

HERES SOUTH NORMANTONS DAVE TURNER ARRIVING WELL ARMED

Mills had now been allocated 2pm starts and although this makes visiting tight time wise it would hopefully help with an extra hour of light for photographs. Ground wise nothing had changed much since the November visit although the winds of recent weeks had blown a few more wooden slats down out of the fencing on the far side and could do with a tidy up.

SOME CLOSE UP ACTION

Referee Jim Thornhill got us underway and although very industrious there was very little in the way of goal mouth action but the first half saw the home side just edge it with Henry Brooks going closest to breaking the deadlock.

REFEREE JIM THORNHILL SHIELDS FROM THE SUN

The bright low sunshine was making it difficult to see some areas of the pitch and certainly was not good for the photo ops. Early in that first half Mills managers twin brother Dave Turner the South Normanton manager turned up with a collection of his management team after their game had been called off at Nottingham FC. They were well on the way when their opposition declared they could not raise a side so an afternoon spent watching this game would probably serve a purpose as The Shiners strive for the CMA South title.

MILLS ROBERTS RECEIVES THE BALL

The second half was just as determined and although again not providing too many clear cut chances was becoming a great advert for the grit and determination of non league football.

HENRY BROOKS LOOKS FOR THE PASS

Just past the hour mark the visitors Max Bulmer forced home keeper Ryan Barson to save with his legs. Mills threatened next when Prims keeper Jack Morley sliced his clearance the ball fell to George Simpson who tried to lob him from distance but the effort fell wide.

MAX DENTON MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS

Mills were grateful to emergency central defender Tom Torrington for an excellent challenge on 83 minutes. With Prims substitute Jake Dickinson weaving his way through the home defence Torrington pulled off a superb tackle on the edge of his box to deny the visitors goal bound progress.

MILLS BREAK AWAY

The last fifteen minutes had seen the game open up not surprisingly after the effort both sides had put into the game new signing Matt Fowler hit the side netting for Mills before the winner on 88 minutes.

PRIMS RETAIN POSESSION

A determined run down the left from Luke Greaves saw him supply a lovely cross that found Carrington at the back post his initial shot was blocked and as the ball flew up he headed the loose ball to set off some joyous scenes in the tree lined dusk.

CAPTAIN SUTER TRACK PRIMS ATTACK

Mansfield manager Turner was getting edgy now and after a few watch checks decided a few questions to the referee and dug out side assistant Andrew Harland about how long there was left to play. No need to panic his team got through the five minutes of stoppage time with ease and when referee Thornhill called time it was nice to see Mills gain one of those too few victories.

YELLOW CARD ON DEBUT FOR FOWLER

An all the more remarkable victory in that the home side were down three players who were all waiting on births tow central defenders and goalkeeper. Torrington filled in superbly at the back and maybe seeing that role become more permanent with an excellent performance from captain Tom Suter to add to this. New signing Matt Fowler added some bite up front and overall Mills just looked up for the game with a superb amount of hard work their efforts were richly deserved when Carrington got the ball over the line at the far post.

YOU COULD HAVE HAD THE FACE BUT YOU WENT FOR THE CARD

Referee Thornhill shared his part in this entertaining game keeping the game flowing and overall this was up there with my most entertaining games of the season, although I have to be fair and say the bar has sadly not been too high so far this season.

RYAN BARSON CLEARS FOR MILLS

A comfort break and quick cheerio's to people and the cheeky taxi was about ten minutes away so a move the the end of the complex road would see a quick departure back to base for around 4.30pm.

An enjoyable afternoon with a superb early return.

REFEREE THORNHILL ADVISES THE NEXT WAY IS THE DRESSING ROOMS

I was really pleased to see Mills achieve this victory for both manager Mark Turner and his team it must make it all worthwhile its never easy being at the wrong end of the table so I'm sure they will will enjoy their weekend. Lets hope they can put together a run and start to climb the Premier South table.