28 August 2021
The Toolstation Northern Counties East Premier Division
Maltby Main 2–1 AFC Mansfield
Bulls suffer heartbreak in late defeat as Maltby score in added time to take all three points with Brad Morton's unmarked header the difference at Muglet lane.
The Bulls were slow out the gate in the first half, struggling to get a foothold in the game with the first chance going to the home side.
Maltby forward Austin is fouled just outside the box and earns his side a free-kick which is directly hit at the Bulls wall, the rebound is knocked back into the box and not immediately dealt with however the danger goes when keeper Jason White calmly collects the ball.
The first of many real talking points arrived after the twenty minute mark when the Bulls appeal for a free kick after a Maltby player blocks Luke Walker when he was through on goal and was pushed in the back but the ref says no foul.
Tempers began to flare shortly after Bulls call for a penalty when winger Kian Sketchley makes a daring run towards the penalty area and was brought down. This seemed to be from inside the box but it wasn't given, instead the referee blew for the freekick which led to a shot being placed well over the bar.
The second half couldn't of got off to a worse start with the Bulls conceding early on.
Maltby's Austin making a nuisance and finding himself through on goal splitting open the away defence and has no trouble calmly slotting a shot past Bulls Keeper White, not the start The Bulls wanted.
Bulls boss Phil Buxton made two enforced changes as defender Sam King walked off injured being replaced by forward Jermaine Jatau with Kacper Rajter also limping off for midfielder Kofi Appiah.
The substitutes worked a treat as the Bulls started to grow into the game with some nice link up play with Appiah being at the heart of the attack which lead to Tom Slone's shot being just wide on the seventieth minute mark.
AFC Mansfield striker Luke Walker equalises with ten minutes plus added to spare with a well placed penalty to bring it level for the Bulls ensuring that a point is taken back to Mansfield.
It wasn't to be as sloppy defending causes panic for the Bulls as a dangerous looking ball is left unguarded leaving nothing but a simple Brad Morton back post header to seal the win for Maltby and all three points at Muglet Lane.
Maltby Main: Warhurst, McGowan (Morton 57), Algar, Marsden, Austin(c) Hill, Cutts,
Williams (Whitfield 89) , Austin, Hardwick (Whiting 64) James Subs not used: Stancliffe, Chipps
AFC Mansfield: White, Gibb, Rajter,(Appiah 54) Slone, King (c) (Jatau 54') Cropper, D’Laryea Hobson J, Karkach (Dudley 81) Walker, Sketchley Subs not used: Buxton, Noon,
Att: 78
Bulls MoM: Thomas Cropper
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