Match Review: Sleaford Town (A)
AFC Mansfield made another lengthy trip this time to Lincolnshire-based Sleaford Town.
The heavens opened up upon the referee's whistle which made it all the more difficult for the two teams.
Sleaford started the better side and it wasn't long before the first goal of the day.
Akeel Francis close range shot from inside the area manages to beat keeper Dearle in the 9th minute of the game.
The Bulls however continued to fight but poor defending costs Bulls the second goal.
Sleaford's Akeel and Smith working nicely together. A nice through ball from Akeel which finds the feet of Smith through on goal and has no trouble placing a tidy shot inside the area.
The Bulls managed to claw a goal back following a penalty. The referee called for a handball after Sleaford's Joe Butler shot was adjusted to have handled the ball.
Ethen Hulley had no trouble tucking away the penalty calmly placing the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.
Poor decision-making ultimately cost the Bulls the third of the game. Following a corner from Jacob Fenton, Charlie Ward gets above everyone else and powers home the header.
The Bulls never gave up despite the score-line arguably starting the second half the better side.
Waite was through on goal but failed to beat the Sleaford keeper with the ball ending up on the top side of the net
The work rate continued to show when Joe Harrison's effort from distance just lands shy of Sleaford's goal.
Bulls continued to pass the ball around making it a difficult half for Sleaford.
However once again poor decision-making and defending following a corner again cost the Bulls. The Bulls failed to clear a corner scrambling to get the ball away from the goalmouth. The assistant referee raised his flag and informed the referee the ball had crossed the line straight from the corner.
A frustrating end to the game but overall a much better team performance from the Bulls.
Half-time score: 3-1
Bulls Man of the Match: Ewan McKenna
Final score: 4-1
Attendance: 147
The Bulls starting XI: 1.Dearle 2.Mckenna 3.Anjola 4. Harrison 5.Buxton 6. Walwyn-Alsop 7.Waite 8.Lees-Collier 9.Lawe 10.Hulley 11.Tefara
Subs: 12.Hobson 14.Nyirenda 15.Marshall