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MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 2 MICKLEOVER RES 1

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

9 MARCH 2024 --- 3PM

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V MICKLEOVER RES AS MILLS CELEBRATE THE WINNER

After a mid week home loss to Bakewell described by the club as 'abysmal' The Mills returned to winning ways but not before being behind to an indifferent first half performance against a lively Mickleover Reserves side.  The second half though saw two quick goals after the break that allowed the home side to dominate and when the visitors were later reduced to ten men the three points were heading to Nottinghamshire.

ITS TIME FOR THAT MARK TURNER PICTURE

A drier week but a morning of rain had lead to the usual concerns and once again some clubs don't communicate and some clubs do thankfully Mills manager Mark Turner is one of the latter and on the back of this he had another paying spectator.

Mills had lost 4-2 to Bakewell in midweek at The Fieldings just as they were looking to pull away into mid table respectability the visitors arrived also looking for a much needed three points to pull away from the wrong end of the table.

CLUB MAN OF THE MATCH AND CAPTAIN TOM SUTER RECOVERS AFTER A FOUL

Cheeky taxi territory would allow for a comfortable afternoon just over the Derbyshire border and what had started of a nice one was soon to turn into an inclement affair with a sharp wind which was making it a cold watch, added to this a bobbly pitch as the surface dries out things would not be easy for the players either.  As ever though a warm welcome from the small band of volunteers here who keep the club functioning.

HENRY BROOKS ALL SMILES

It was nice to see former Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Forest star Marcus Tudgay in attendance, watching his son Mason who was playing for the Derby based visitors.  Upon return to base I did have a few more reviews of the wonderful goal he scored for The Owls v The Blades a glorious strike from 25 yards into the top left hand corner of the goal, worth searching for it to take a look yourself unless of course you are a Sheffield United fan.

STRONG PERFORMANCE FROM REFEREE COREY GREEN TODAY

Mansfield kicking up hill against the increasingly strong wind were struggling to put to much of value together however the visitors had struck the bar twice within the opening twenty minutes, the first crashed back off the woodwork onto the goal line before a 20 yard free kick rattled the framework.

Just as it looked like Mills had held off the Mickleover attack they conceded four minutes before the break when Luis Mas-Hall turned the ball in from close range after good work from Tudgay and that's how we went into the break.

MARCUS TUDGAY STUDYING THE FIRST HALF

The cold half time break was warmed by Tudgay senior showing his skills with an interval kick about so after the break the home side made a double substitution before the re start something that immediately seemed to allow the team to move up a gear as they forced Mickleover onto the back foot.

MARCUS TUDGAY HALF TIME SKILLS

They were level within three minutes of referee Corey Green's re start whistle after a smart little move on the left it was George Simpson who found the back of the net to create parity.  

Just seven minutes later the visitors were left stunned as Mansfield took the lead when the ball was fed into the box to Luke Crosby who shielded and then turned to fire across the goal into the left hand corner of the net to make it 2-1.

GEORGE SIMPSON [L] RECEIVES CONGRATS FOR HIS GOAL TO MAKE IT 1-1

Mickleover were battling to get a foothold back in the game but disaster struck for them just past the hour mark when a high challenge from Samuel Tomlinson felled the Mills player and it resulted in a confrontation which saw referee Green show a red card for the initial challenge.

MATT FOWLER IN PROFILE

An alert home side from there on in denied the ten men of Mickleover any way back into the game but the chance count was not high for Mansfield either.  It remained a game that turned on the opening ten minutes of the second half probably aided by the double morale boosting substitutes and helped thereafter by the visitors reduction in numbers.

GEORGE SIMPSON LINES UP AM EFFORT ON GOAL

The increasingly cold March afternoon had by ten to five produced three points that opens up the vista of mid table respectability for Mills and the warmth from the victory was there for all too see in the players.  Mickleover have some handy players but today it wasn't to be and they probably perform better on flat pitches it will be interesting to see how their run in to the season goes.

LUKE CROSBY ENJOYS HIS WINNING GOAL

It was time to say cheerio to The Fieldings again and I couldn't say I would be too sorry with my body in need of a good old warm through.  Cheeky taxi got a return to base at around 5.45 from a visit to a club that I'm increasingly enjoying popping along to.

MATT FOWLER ON THE RUN 

As the 23/24 season comes to its conclusion much like you, I bet, I just crave picking a game midweek and being able to stick to it with no pitch problems from the constant wet weather lets hope for a good finish for all clubs without the continuing inconvenience of constant postponements.  Who knows we might just get a dry warm summer for the cricket, but that may be asking too much.

TOM TORRINGTON RALLIES THE MILLS

Run out of waffle before the last picture, ha ha.

RYAN BARSON MILLS NUMBER ONE