Central League Cup (Northern Group 2)
at Kirklington Road, Rainworth
Mansfield Town (1) 2
Alfie Potter 18, 70
Notts County (0) 0
Admission £3. Attendance 98
Bobby Olejnik, Jack Thomas, Krystian Pearce (C), Paul Digby, Mal Benning, Will Atkinson, Jacob Mellis, Calum Butcher, Alfie Potter, Omari Sterling-James, Jimmy Spencer
Unused subs - Sam Wilson (GK), Jordan Graham, Cameron Healey, Jason Law, Louis Danquah
 |
| Legend! |
Branislav Pindroch, Nicky Hunt, Haydn Hollis, Pierce Bird, Dan Jones (Peter Dearle 51), Liam Walker, Curtis Thompson (Declan Dunn 76), Alex Howes, Elliot Hodge, Callum Saunders, Alan Smith (C)
Unused subs - Max Culverwell (GK), Sam Osborne, Remaye Campbell
Prior to this afternoon, the Stags had won both of their previous group games: 4-0 v Burton Albion at St. George's Park and 2-0 v Grimsby Town here at Rainworth.
 |
| Don't forget your PE kit, or they'll make you find something your size to wear out of the dressing up box. |
The home side went into this afternoon's cup tie, off the back of a convincing win at Bootham Crescent last Tuesday, where Haydn White opened the scoring for the Stags Reserves against York City's stiffs, while Jimmy Spencer and Calum Butcher scored two apiece in a 5-0 win.
Today's game was settled by a brace of goals by Alfie Potter.
Liam Walker had just gone close to giving County the lead from a free kick, when Potter's first came when Jack "He's one of our own!" Thomas, pushing forward from right back, played a great diagonal ball across the face of the Notts goal to Calum Butcher, whose fiercely struck shot ricocheted off of Branislav Pindroch's legs towards Potter, who netted with a firm strike from close range.
Both sides had plenty of chances in the interim and weren't afraid to shoot on sight, and Mal Benning had just drilled a low free kick past the left hand upright, moments before County's hopes of progressing in the cup, took a severe dent on seventy minutes, when Spencer held off the attentions of two visiting players, as he progressed towards the goal through the right channel, before flicking the ball sideways to his left, to where Potter bent the ball into the top corner of the goal, giving Pindroch no chance of making the save, to claim both his and the Stags second goal.
County pushed forward chasing the game, but the Stags defence held firm, while at the opposite end of the pitch, Jacob Mellis saw his long range shot dip narrowly over the bar and Calum Butcher almost put the icing on the Stags cake with a third, but saw his goal bound strike blocked by Haydn Hollis.
Among the visitors ranks, besides the former Stags defender Nicky Hunt, were the sons of both Steve Hodge and Dean Saunders, following in their father's footsteps in the professional game.
And, of course, the former Leeds United, Manchester United and Newcastle United player Alan Smith, who still obviously has the touch of a former Premier League player, but who seriously needs to moderate the way he effs and Geoffs at match officials, especially when you're already sitting on a yellow card for a two footed lunge on Mellis right on the stroke of half time.
The Magpies had their moments in this lively cup tie, but the Stags deservedly won the game and the place in the semi final that now beckons.
Any road... that's your lot for this afternoon, I'm having my tea then heading out again for Shirebrook Town v Campion in a NCEL Division 1 game tonight.
Well played Stags! I hope that the Notts Chairman Alan Hardy who was present enjoyed the game as much as we did.
FT: Mansfield Town Reserves 2 v Notts County Reserves 0
Good luck to Mansfield town U18 side in their FA Youth Cup second round game at the New York Stadium v Rotherham United tomorrow night.
