Venue: The Worksop Van Hire Stadium, Clipstone, Notts
Competition: NMDL Cup 1/2 final
Referee: Mr. Richard Eley
Scorers:
Stags - Anthony Dwyer (7)
Ambers - Jed Philips (39), Matt Blakemore (57), Josh Dacre (82 p)
Line-ups
Mansfield - Hampson, Walker, Shires, Brownlie, Danquah, Gibson, Fitzpatrick, Spencer, Blake, Holloway, Dwyer
Handsworth - Jones, Wright, Chapell, Eades, Flaherty, Dawes, Hudson, Phillips, Lee, Carroll, Blakemore. Subs- South, Saffi, Beaumont, Dacre
I've not been to see the Stags' youngsters for a while, so with a free evening, it was off to the Lido. Spent the game in the company of Clipstone Chairman, Brett Marshall, along with AFC Mansfield Chairman, Steve Hymas. Mansfield's first team bosses Andy Murray and Richard Cooper were at the game, ostensibly to sign professional forms with one of the players.
Mansfield were quickly out of the blocks and looked very impressive as they knocked the ball about with some ease. Their early dominance paid dividends in the 5th minute when a Corbin Shires header caused paninc in the visitors' defence, leaving ANTHONY DWYER a simple tap in from close range.
On 39, Parramore won a free-kick 25 yards from the Stags' goal. The ball was floated high in the air and looked like it was going to go out for a goal-kick. The ball actually dropped to a Mansfield defender, but he failed to clear and when the ball was played across the goal, JED PHILIPS was on hand to ram home the equaliser. H-T 1-1
With 12 minutes of the second half played, Handsworth took the lead after Stags' keeper Frazer Hampson was unable to hold onto Saffi's shot when challenged by MATT BLAKEMORE, and the striker calmly slotted into the empty net. Was it a foul on the keeper as the young Stags claimed? Not really - and hopefully a lesson learned for a very good keeper - keep the ball tight to your body when it's in your hands and there are opposition players in close proximity.
Parramore made their passage the final secure on 82 when the unfortunate Hampson collided with a Handsworth striker, and sent him flying. To me it looked a stonewall penalty and so did the Referee and his Assistant. Strangely, Hampson was given a straight red for the incident. Very questionable when there was no obvious goalscoring opportunity prevented, nor was there serious foul play. A yellow would probably have been sufficient punishment, especially when the penalty had already been awarded.
Sam Wilson came on in Hampson's place, and despite dancing around on his line "a la Grobbelaar", JOSH DACRE waited until the keeper had settled down a bit before sending the ball one way as Wilson dived the other. F-T 1-3
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Great game of football - both teams gave their all and on balance, the better team won and will now face either Hallam or Collingham in the final.
Admission: £2.00
Programme: included
Attendance: tbc
Charity: £3.00
