Two second half goals from Kaylum Mitchell and Cian Zamboglou were enough to give the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead with Ben Robson’s thumping header to half arrears arriving just too late for the Greens to force a significant change in the direction of the points.

Manager Matt Evans made three changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Shirebrook Town last weekend, including handing out two debuts to goalkeeper Harrison Leech and forward, Nathan Brettoner. They took the places of the absent Harry Gibbons and back-up keeper Anandhu Rajendran while Josh Parker also dropped to the bench in place of Lewis Greenfield. Hosts AFC Mansfield meanwhile were 2-0 victors over Gresley Rovers last weekend and they also made three changes to their side. Out went top-scorer Ryan Ingram, Kacper Rajter and William Heather and in came Jake Batty, Richemone Sylla and Jordan Sowerby.

The Greens began the contest with the endeavour and effort they would show all afternoon, if still lacking a little quality at the top end of the field – Lewis Greenfield charging down Josh Turton’s clearance before dragging wide of the far post the pick of the early opportunities for the Greens. The hosts were not without chances of their own early on though and Jack Gibb will feel he could have done better than stab wide of Harrison Leech’s goal after he’d broken through the Greens defensive lines before Leech was lively to catch James Matthews’ powerful freekick.

Into the second half and both chances and goals continued to elude both sides, that was until Jack Gibbs corner was thrust back into the area for Kaylum Mitchell to hammer home the opener on 53 minutes. The Greens response was admirable, and Andy Whalen was mightily unlucky to see his plum volley from Lewis Greenfield’s cross strike the grateful body of Harley Bates just beyond the hour before Lewis Smalley probably enjoyed the pick of the Greens chances so far, heading into the alert hands of Josh Turton from Ryan Flitton’s corner.

The Bulls sucker punch arrived on 70 minutes though as they stretched their lead to an ultimately un-recoverable 2-0 – substitute Cian Zamboglou the beneficiary of a hopeful ball forward, beating Leech to the punch and ultimately lobbing to the net. By this stage, the Greens were on the ropes, and it could have been 3-0 a minute or so later were it not for a handy hook off the line by Jack Arbon.

Arbon was to play a pivotal role in the switching of momentum, though not in the way he would have hoped when his head injury required a significant stoppage in play that allowed the Greens to regroup. Jack Sowerby could again have finished the game off when he headed inches wide of Leech’s post before Turton was in action at the other end to beat away Ben Robson’s venomous drive. It was to be Robson who gave the Greens a glimmer of hope in the fourth minute of stoppage time, thumping Ben Ashall’s corner into the net to give the final few minutes a real edge – though it was ultimately on that the Greens could not ultimately take advantage of as the Bulls held out well to secure the points.

Words: Oliver Atkin