MILLS BRUSHED ASIDE

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 0 CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH TOWN 5

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

3 AUGUST 2024 --- 3PM

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH TOWN 

Visitors Cromford and Wirksworth Town swept aside Mills in a disappointing home performance that had The Fieldings based side wondering if just maybe they could start their season again.  But for the visitors it was a second half of clinical finishing that gained them a large margin in the score and three points to get their campaign underway.

A brief blog with just a few pictures with this later than normal posting from Saturday's game at The Fieldings.  A steady afternoon saw the supply road to the club have a Nottinghamshire Premier cricket game on to the left something that I managed to watch the final five overs of the Mills innings.  But the pull today was to the right and the CMA football encounter.  After all of about two months off it was good to catch up with some old friends at Mills, Dawn on the gate and Ted who was in subdued mood.  Onwards to get the teams and the ever friendly greeting from Paul Hutchinson who was manager today with Mark Turner being away on family business.  Paul would be assisted by new goal keeping coach Ben Robinson. 

On for a few early match provisions from the ever pleasant snack bar and having watched the cricket it meant it was almost kick off time.  This fixture was one of from near the end of last season as was Mills home fixture on Tuesday night versus Teversal a bit of a strange quirk.  There was a little time also to catch up with a few spectators including White Hart Stags organised Dave, who pops down from Huthwaite when the stags don't have a game and has been a loyal watcher of the Mills, lets hope for them the fixtures don't clash and Dave can attend most Mills matches.  Also adorned in his own produced Mansfield Hosiery Mills T Shirt with club badge proudly displayed across it, sadly the picture I took did not come out very clear.  It was also good to catch up with experienced assistant referee Stuart Walker who most of my seasons tend to mirror so many of his games, ha, ha.

CAPTAIN TOM TORRINGTON IN DISCUSSION AT HALF TIME

PAUL HUTCHINSON AND BEN ROBINSON RETURN TO THE CHANGING ROOMS AT HALF TIME

The home side were without a large batch of players on holiday although I guess this is true for so many sides with the now early start to the season planned to avoid the weather chaos of the last few.

The first half would not show too bad a return up until the final minute when referee George Salloway awarded what appeared a slightly soft penalty to the visitors for which George Geeson made no mistake.  Before this they had a good cross goal shot that fell just wide and Geeson himself had struck the crossbar with Matt Fowler beaten in the Mills goal.

KORBEN SPIER JUMPS CLEAR

The second half started more encouragingly when the home side were awarded a free kick 25 yards out Korben Spier struck it well but it was right into the arms of the visiting keeper Dan Brown.  That's when it went all wrong as he cleared a quick breakaway caught Mansfield off guard and the ball was fed to Scott Taylor who drove and slotted past Fowler to double the lead.

FOWLER FOUNTAIN

Shortly after the home sides increasing frustrations came out in dissent and Alex Sanderson was sent to the sin bin by referee Salloway.  Mansfield were up against it now and the final fifteen minutes had a feeling of acceptance that this could further implode and so it did.  With Taylor adding to his tally and a brace from Luke Roper also all from attacks that left Fowler exposed in the home goal.

REFEREEE GEORGE SALLOWAY FIRST HALF PENALTY AWARD

It was a warm overcast afternoon that would have been hard work for many of the players and it has to  be said from a Mills point of view they kept going but overall there would be much disappointment to the start of the season after an encouraging end to pre season in mid week, a 5-0 victory over Notts Senior League premier side Bilborough.

For the visitors they would be delighted with a workmanlike performance that returned them five goals in a big victory margin to start their Premier South challenge.

TEDS NEW EXECUTIVE BOX IS KITTED OUT WITH ALL THE LUXURIES HE REQUIRES

Much to do then at Hosiery Mills who entertain local rivals Teversal next in need of a much better performance also after they lost their opening game also at home by the same score line to South Normanton.