Sherwood Colliery 2-2 AFC Mansfield: Match Report

A well-fought performance from AFC Mansfield saw the Bulls earn a deserved point at Sherwood Colliery. Goals from Ross Duggan and Lynton Karkach in response to Lewis Weaver and Lewis Belgrave saw the two Mansfield-based clubs share the spoilers at Debdale Park. Mansfield began the game off looking the more likely, as Karkach flashed an effort wide from the edge of the box before Duggan created a yard of space for himself and blazed over. Sherwood responded with a huge opportunity for Tim Gregory, as the ball was squared into the forward who somehow missed the target from two-yards out. The home side would take the lead shortly after, and it was written in the stars that it would be Weaver, scoring against the club he left weeks earlier. A lovely threaded through ball found Weaver who calmly slid the ball past Adam Revuelta to grant Sherwood the lead. The lead wouldn’t last long however, as Phil Buxton’s side immediately responded. A deflected cross fell into the path of Duggan, who latched onto it and hammered the ball past Josh Turton in the Sherwood goal. Derby day was full of drama however, as Sherwood immediately re-took control of the match through Belgrave. A ball across goal found the midfielder who, on the counter-attack, calmly placed the ball past the outstretched Revuelta. Things went from bad to worse for Mansfield too, as a Kian Sketchley handball forced the referee to grant the home side a penalty. Thankfully, Will Norcross hit the target and blasted wide. Both sides would share chances before the end of the first half, with Norcross and Karkach coming close, but Duggan’s game was brought to an early end after a rash challenge from Jamie York. Heading into the second half, the Bulls came out flying and found an instant equaliser through Karkach, as a lovely ball from Alfie Dodsworth found the wing-back who lashed the ball past Turton to net his third in two games against the Wood. Sherwood grew back into the game first through Gregory, who attempted an acrobatic bicycle kick which struck the crossbar, before York blasted the ball narrowly over from 25-yards. Gregory and Weaver again came close, but a combination of defenders, Revuelta and a lack of finishing prowess saw the Bulls come out unscathed. But as Mansfield showed resilience and two free-kicks came to nothing, the referee brought the game to a close with the points shared in the Mansfield derby. The Bulls are next in action on Saturday, as Google make the trip to the Forest Town Arena.