Men's 1st XI Vs Mansfield 1

South Nottingham 1’s 5 v 2 Mansfield 1’s

Stuart Mills reports

South entered the game looking to make it back to back wins for the first time in 2020. Captain Gaz Bland took a more cautious approach to the Mansfield home fixture opting to actually play a keeper.

South started slowly and struggled to get hold of the ball and were punished by a smart breakaway from Mansfield with smart play finding a man spare at the back post.

This livened South up though and they responded straight away. Smart front play from Mike Shapland , Gaz bland and Tom Crosland saw South win a short and the rebound was converted by the skipper Bland.

With the score at 1-1, South played some of their best hockey of the season. The centre backs controlling the ball around the back with Tommy Pistolis and Harry Lane joining in midfield be playing his best hockey of the season including some brilliant tackles. The full backs getting high with James ward, Mark Willey and Tom Fletcher always being an option. South were in complete control and created a number of chances but only one by Gaz Bland was converted to make it 2-1 before half time.

At half time, South wanted more of the same and were hoping that they wouldn’t come to rue the missed chances in the first half. However, South started slowly again and found themselves back at 2-2 with Mansfield equalising.

Again, just like the first half, this proved to be the wake up call that South needed. The game opened up which allowed the always classy Robbo Matt Robinson to pick his passes and Stuart Mills and Ben Ryder with plenty of space to run with the ball in. A jinking run by Mills won South another short corner and this time Tom Crossland was found at the back post for South to regain the lead.

South now found themselves in control and another short this time saw Ben Ryder convert with a low flick to add to his earlier assist.

As Mansfield pushed higher, Tom Crossland finished the job with a killer break away goal rounding the keeper to slot home to win 5-2.

The Mansfield fixture is a fixture normally won by one goal and the 5-2 scoreline is showing the improvement within this South team. An impressive performance they will look to build on.

A best wishes to Mikey who was rushed to A & E with the second worst finger injury we’ve seen this season. Mills came back on...

Unfortunately, I was busy umpiring and putting my name forward for clubman of the year so I don’t know the MOM or DOD I can only assume it was myself..

Up the South