CLASSY CROSBY

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 3 MAYFIELD 1

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

2 MAY 2024 --- 7.45PM

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V MAYFIELD

Luke Crosby hit a brace to put Mansfield Hosiery Mills on the pathway to three points against visitors Mayfield by 3 goal to one and provide a much needed confidence booster after Tuesday heavy loss to Mickleover RBL.

TED POPS OUT FROM UNDER THE BLANKET FOR A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Strangely visits to The Fieldings are edging the most visited ground table this season and I think the selling point is the friendly welcome and although, unfortunately, they are not getting great home crowds in terms of number the regulars and club officials are their selling point.  On the pitch its always hard but there is a collection of players here who give it 100% and a manager in Mark Turner who continues to get out a full squad for match day even under the pressures of four games in eight days at the end of this disrupted season. 

REFEREE DAVID HUNT POINTS FOR A GOAL KICK AND TURNS AWAY

Ted was back on the gate but still suffering from his leg injury and appearing very quiet and under the weather he was perched on a seat with coat on and a warm blanket while Dawn greeted all visitors and a couple hopping in from Sheffield who were of course offered a warm Mills welcome.

From the blogs point of view it was nice to receive further welcomes from Manager Mark and assistant Paul Hutchinson.  Also good to catch up again with Mills and Stags fan Dave White again.  The further interest was to catch up with referee David Hunt who following his relinquishment of his assistant referee Football League status I had only seen him on Sunday league games, so tonight would be interesting to watch his unique style in The CMA.  Once again it was great to have few minutes catch up with him before the game.

SERIOUS POSE FROM REFEREE HUNT

A little bit lighter than Tuesday and the chance to get a few more pictures although the light was still disappearing as we approached half time.

The action then and Matt Fowler tested visiting keeper Scott Lyon and then William Harrison cleared off the line to deny Mansfield.  A frantic start with the ball impersonating a red hot potato had failed to produce a goal for the home side and the inevitable happened when Mayfield took the lead from the penalty spot when Harrison converted with confidence after 23 minutes.

A minute later Crosby produced another one of those wonder goals he's becoming noted for when he smashed in a glorious effort into the top right hand corner from the edge of the box.

We went into the break with the game all square there had been some agricultural stuff and the home side were clearly relying heavily on the long ball forward quick and fast which to me often adds to the excitement, on the other side the grass was slightly long and the ball bobbling all over the place so it was probably the correct policy.

LYON HALTS MILLS EFFORT

Confectionary break over and we were ready for a prompt restart as was Crosby.

The Mills number 17 is a big chap but the partnership with Fowler this season has been one of the highlights with his hold up play and Fowlers pace adding the threat to the Mills attack that had been missing for much of the season.  Anyway for now Crosby picked up the ball on the edge of the box weaved his way past two Mayfield defenders and finished superbly past Lyon between the sticks.

The game was still not concluded as the last twenty minutes saw Mayfield play some nice football on the floor and going close on a few occasions including on 73 minutes when Tom Wain tested home keeper Tom Maxwell who was equal to the threat.  

In the closing stages Mills came back into the reckoning of settling the game when Jacob Robins tested Lyon.  But it was the ninetieth minute before they could relax when an audacious strike of the far right 30 yards out from Elliot Nunn beat Lyon all ends up to make it 3-1.

MAXWELL DOES ENOUGH TO DENY MAYFIELD

Lets be fair this wasn't pretty with lots of misplaced passes, as previously mentioned on an uneven pitch and a long drawn out season.  But it definitely was 100% effort from both squads on the night as Mayfield battle away to avoid the 'playing' bottom spot even though Nottingham have withdrawn and will be at the foot of the table.  But its an admirable effort they are putting in.  Last time I caught up with them was at Tibshelf in their MRA days but their move to the CMA has brought them to new venues and they must be applauded for the positive way their efforts came across tonight.

CROSBY CONGRATULATED ON HIS FIRST GOAL