Pre-season game at Watnall Road.
Not much use looking at the team sheet for the Stags starting eleven. To begin with the players shirts had no numbers - ironic really when the Stags have just announced the actual squad numbers on their website! Recognised a few of the Mansfield starters - Louis Briscoe, Shane Redmond, John Thompson, Anthony Howell - but the rest were unknown to me - a very lapsed Stags fan!!
Hucknall were as per the team sheet, and all the players listed were given time on the pitch, as boss Brett Marshall rang the changes after the break.
Keeper Jason Fisher wasn't wearing a hat even though he was staring straight into the sun - and the young man almost paid dearly when a thunderous Hutchinson strike crashed against his knees early doors. Clearly blinded by the low sun, Fisher soon called for his cap.
Mansfield dominated the first 20 minutes or so, but Hucknall gradually got their game together and created a couple of chances - Karl Slack should have done better from 18 yards on 40, but he fired well over. Mansfield took the lead in the dying seconds of the half, when Briscoe played in Howell, who ran into the box before neatly chipping Fisher. H-T 0-1
Had a nice chat with photographer Dan Westwell who was at the game with his family. As he was not actually working, Dan paid to get in. Well done, Dan - I know some others who would have used their name and position to get in for nowt...
Rob Waite and Mick Cooke joined us for the second half - great banter... although most of the abuse and piss taking was aimed at yours truly for some reason. Mel Furness had started it earlier by asking if they had let me in as a concession for £2 ... then when Dan was aiming his stonking great camera at me, he said he didn't see Rob who was standing behind me! He was wearing a bright red tee-shirt! And is not exactly a lamp-post....!!!!! God damn it!!!!
Rob Waite and Mick Cooke joined us for the second half - great banter... although most of the abuse and piss taking was aimed at yours truly for some reason. Mel Furness had started it earlier by asking if they had let me in as a concession for £2 ... then when Dan was aiming his stonking great camera at me, he said he didn't see Rob who was standing behind me! He was wearing a bright red tee-shirt! And is not exactly a lamp-post....!!!!! God damn it!!!!
The Dynamic Trio!!!
Stags scored one minute after the restart - a cracker from young trialist Ryan McGorrigan, who controlled the ball superbly, before flicking it up and volleying past Fisher. Cracking effort!
Hucknall contained their professional opponents for the rest of the half, but were undone right at the death, when they allowed a simple ball to go all the way across the goal, trialist McGorrigan had the simple task of stabbing home his second of the night. F-T 0-3
Admission £5
Attendance 385
