As the teams lined up, the Mansfield Town Chaplain gave a moving tribute to Mr. Keith Alexander who sadly passed away on Wednesday. A minutes round of applause followed - I think this is a much better option than the usual minutes silence......and credit to everyone present for keeping the up volume of the applause throughout the whole minute.
After 29 minutes, we were lamenting about how the Stags were failing to impress, and looked like screwing with our goals per game average again -- then bang - two goals and the smile back on our faces! I had just told Kev that if things didn't improve, I would be looking at alternatives for next Saturday, when JON CHALLINOR hit a 16 yard effort that deflected under visiting keeper James Bittner. JOHN SHAW hammered the second on 37, a Williams cross field ball that found Briscoe who beat his man and crossed into the box where JON SHAW was waiting to head powerfully home.
Two minutes later the visitors pulled one back - after the ball flicked up into the air from a free-kick, Marriott did well to push the ball onto his post, but was left on his backside as REECE CONNOLLY tapped home the loose ball from a yard out. We later learned that a spectator had thrown his season ticket at Stags boss David Holdsworth as he walked off the pitch at the break.... I know it's been bad at the Mill recently, and I've been tempted not to go, but I've never thought of chucking in my season ticket!! Shame that Holdsworth threw his dummy out of the pram at full time though by refusing to talk to the media - apparently he was still fuming about the incident!! Grow up lad, please, you're a big boy now. H-T 2-1
Kyle Nix is one of my favourite Stags players at the moment, and when Jon Challinor went of injured at half-time, he teamed up with Gary Mills. What a midfield pairing that is! With those two playing well, and Louis Briscoe having his best game all season (his words, not mine), the Stags looked very classy second half. It took until the 75th minute for the Stags to increase their lead - Gary Mills capitalising on a loose ball and running some 50 yards before crossing into the area where KYLE PERRY was on hand to steer home.
Four minutes were to be added, and when Ben Adelsbury hit a drive from distance that flew past Marriott, there were a few worried faces both on and off the pitch.
ROB DUFFY eased those worries when he fired home the Stags fourth in the 5th minute of stoppage time - extra extra time added because of a an horrendous challenge by Stuart Anderson on Gary Mills that saw the midfielder get only a yellow, when the tackle looked to warrant a straight red. Referee Mr. Khatib may have got that wrong, but then when he looked to be about to blow for full time, allowing Briscoe to play on and find Duffy was a great decision. F-T 4-2
Admission : season ticket ( still in my possession!)
Attendance : 2842 ( 38 from Salisbury)
Tuesday : Two of our favourite teams go head to head as Gedling MW take on Forest Town in a Notts F.A. Senior Cup 1/4 final.
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