Rainworth Mw v Afc Mansfield (Pre-season friendly)

Today was a case of 'Heads or Tails', it was either Watnall Road to see how Brett Marshall was shaping his squad for his first season in the Evo-Stik or seeing what the newly formed Afc Mansfield would bring to their first ever game at Kirklington Road.

After many years of unrest at Mansfield Town, the ground was eventually freed from the clasp of the former owner, Keith Haslam and on paper it looked as though 'The Stags' were eventually sailing into much calmer waters.. Or perhaps not!!

The present owner John Radford and members of the board still had several issues which unfortunately couldn`t be resolved amicably. Eventually three of the Directors, Steve Hymas, Darren Bland and Andy Saunders resigned from the board and looked to set up their own club, not to rival 'The Stags' but to "give the community an alternative" in their own words.

All they needed now was a facility to call home, they didn`t have to look far... Forest Town Welfare`s now redundant facility was the perfect geographical solution for the proposed new club, so with a five year contract secured on the ground the quest to secure the services of a Manager and a squad started.

The old adage "One mans loss is another`s gain" couldn`t have been more appropriate in the birth of 'The Bulls'.. For reasons not known Shirebrook Town decided to part company with joint Manager`s Mickey Taylor and Dougie Etches despite leading the club to the final of  both the Ncel League Cup and Wilkinson Sword Trophy.

Whether or not Shirebrook had anticipated the decision would not just result in the loss of  the management team but virtually all of their playing staff and some very disgruntled loyal fans, the whole situation has certainly left me scratching my head as to what the club has to gain from it all.  The immediate outcome..Afc Mansfield are born..!!

'The Bulls' get their first fixture on the board

'The Bulls' start their life in the Central Midlands League but with what looks like a solid infrastructure and the buzz surrounding the club in the local area, you can`t help but feel this is the start of something with great potential which for me is a refreshing change from all the doom and gloom surrounding so many clubs in recently seasons.

Rainworth have also had a shuffle in the Boardroom as Chairman, Derek Blow has now taken over at Hucknall Town and is now looking to take the Club forward from all their previous trouble`s. Good Luck to Derek, Brett and all the lads for the coming season.

Dudsey`s never been a big fan of pre-season games and I never read to much into the results but it gets the lads fit, hopefully without any injuries. Hence I `ll be keeping it short and sweet today.

Captains, Mark Camm and Steve McGurk take the toss

Rainworth had a lot of possession in the opening of the first half but Afc are a well crafted side with many of the players use to playing together in a Shirebrook shirt and they soon found their feet, 'The Bulls' made it hard make out who was who from distance having no squad numbers on their shirts, luckily  Dudsey knows most of the squad from Shirebrook.

Skipper Steve McGurk was as solid as a rock and with the added bonus of veteran defender and Ex-Wren Chris Timons by his side Rainworth would have to work hard to break down the central defence.

Rainworth`s attack was spear-headed by Ex-Matlock Town striker Ian Holmes and Steve Akers who looked sharp and incisive at times but McGurk and Timons were winning the battle in the box. Afc`s keeper Mark Frost produced a fine save in the first half.

Pete Stubley broke the deadlock in the 25th minute to score the first ever goal for the newly formed club, Rainworth equalised through Holmes seven minutes later as a goal-mouth scramble resulted in the ball seemingly becoming stationary a yard off the goal-line awaiting a toe to push it over the line which the Wrens No 9 duly obliged.

The second half saw the ritual multiple substitutions from both sides and made a decent contest of it but once again Stubley made the best of several advances by either team in the 70th minute, unfortunately Pete hobbled off minutes later but didn`t look too bad as he passed me. Jarred Holmes and Sam West created a lot of openings for Rainworth with in the latter stages of the second half but failed to trouble Frost`s goal.

A decent knock about but it`s quite obvious that Afc are well above Central Midlands standard and for me should easily take it by storm this season, as for the Wrens..they failed to shine today against a well balanced side with bags of potential but for me Tuesday night`s encounter against Scarborough Athletic should give a better account of where they are compared with last season.

Attendance - A respectable 186

Players who stood out for me, Afc Mansfield - McGurk (Man of the Match), Timons, Stubley, Briggs, McLane, Ludlow, Naylor and Danny Tighe.. (Fine save Frosty lad).  Rainworth - Mark Camm, Kieran Walker, Danny Bacon, Steve Akers, Jared Holmes and Sam West.

Good Luck to Mickey, Dougie and all the lads with Afc Mansfield in their first season.


Match Pictures