Wakefield AFC 2 - 1 AFC Mansfield

AFC Mansfield End Pre-Season with 2–1 Defeat to Wakefield

Wakefield, Tuesday 22 July 2025

AFC Mansfield concluded their pre-season campaign with a 2–1 defeat away to Wakefield, but manager Phil Buxton remains upbeat ahead of the new season, which kicks off this Saturday.

Wakefield started the brighter of the two sides, confidently moving the ball around and setting the tempo early on. It didn’t take long for them to threaten, registering their first shot on goal inside the opening three minutes as they looked to impose themselves from the off.

Not long after, the Bulls created a chance of their own with a lovely threaded ball over the top that picked out Ingram in behind. The forward timed his run well and brought the ball down neatly, managing to get his shot away under pressure — but he fired narrowly wide of the post.

Wakefield opened the scoring after putting AFC Mansfield’s goalkeeper Josh Turton to the test with a double save. Despite Turton’s valiant efforts, he was unable to keep out the rebound, which was headed into the net. Turton was called into action again shortly after, making a big save following a shot from outside the area and doing well to keep the score to just one goal.

Worryingly, defender Bratley, who had only just recovered from an ACL injury last season, went down injured following a tackle and was replaced by substitute Liam Mays on 33 minutes. It was later revealed in the post-match interview that Bratley’s substitution was made as a precautionary measure.

Midfielder Wright came close to putting the Bulls level following a well-delivered corner. Wright rose well to meet the ball but couldn’t quite time his header correctly, and his effort sailed over the bar.

Wakefield doubled their lead just before the break after some slack defending from the Bulls allowed the home side to get a shot away from inside the box, which found the back of the net.

Wakefield had an early effort from distance that sailed just over the bar.

Substitute Liam Mays came on with a point to prove and linked up well with striker Harrison Gray. Gray found himself in a promising position but was closed down quickly by Wakefield defenders, preventing him from getting his shot away.

Keeper Turton went down injured, bringing play to a halt. After lengthy treatment for a gash above his eye, he was later taken to hospital as a precautionary measure and now looks to be a doubt for Saturday’s league game.

The Bulls did get a goal back on the brink of full time, Mays capitalising on a rebound which led to an easy tap-in for the midfielder, wrapping up the game and their pre-season campaign.