Tuesday 28 October 2008

Tuesday 28th October 2008

Mansfield Town v York City F.A. Cup 4th QR replay

A first visit to Field Mill for over two seasons, but as soon as I walked pitchside, I felt I was back home.


Kev had earlier sent me a text telling me the admission fee was just £10.00 in the Quarry Lane end, and as it usually costs £16.00, we were £6.00 to the good before we started out!!


Anyway, we parked up in the Walkers Bingo Hall car park, and made our way to the ground undecided whether to sit in the Quarry Lane end or in the Main Stand - we decide on Quarry Lane and didn't regret the decision - we had the perfect view of Matt Somner's winning goal.
But as the 1st half progressed, we were both wondering if the game we should have gone to was any better ( it finished Forest Town 3-2 Radcliffe ) - both teams were awful showing little or no talent and the words "stale" and "sterile" came to mind.

The prize for winning was a trip to Saltergate, but even this seemed to mean little to the Stags players. The home teams first shot in anger came in the 44th minute, and that went way wide of the goal. H-T 0-0


Emile Sinclair is at Field Mill on loan from the Florists , and it's easy to see why he is no longer in the Reds future plans - he was dreadful - a really poor 45 minutes. It was no surprise when he failed to appear after the break. His replacement was Bulwell lad Aaron O'Connor and he provided the spark that the Stags needed. They came out with guns blazing and had three decent chances in the first couple of minutes of the second period.

Somner's goal on 51 was a beaut and he has to thank Nathan Arnold for the tremendous wing play that set him up. Arnold darted past two defenders, beat another, cut inside the box before beating another than laid the ball into Somner's path 18 yards out. The former Magpie's shot was inch perfect, beating the despairing dive of York keeper Michael Ingham.

Arnold had two glorious chances later on, one saved by Ingham's legs and the other a delightul lob that just sailed over the bar, but York came really close to handing us the dreaded extra time, and right to the end of the four added minutes, it was touch and go!! Special mention for Referee Mr. Marchant -- excellent game, hardly knew he was there .

Blimey, it was cold! But with the Stags winning, Eastwood dumping Wrexham out of the cup and Kev's team ( the Florists) beating Palace, we were well happy with our evening....then back to the car -- just as Bingo was turning out! How popular is this game? There were bloody hundreds of people, and it seemed that each one had a car. So slightly extended stay, but it gave us chance to reflect on the game - and we will be going to Field Mill again... probably at Xmas - Stags v Burton Albion.

Saturday -- a trip to the Robinson Contruction Bowl to see unbeaten Borrowash take on Bardon Hill Sports.

No comments: