PAINTERS SCRAPE HOME WIN

 Pre Season Friendly

WH PAINTERS FC 4 FC MANSFIELD 3

When I heard about this friendly, it was on Yeoman Hill Park, a ground Id never visited for football, but had been there for a teddy bears picnic many years ago with Shawn, this is the home ground of Mansfield Sunday League club WH Painters who were tonight hosting newcomers to the Notts Senior League FC Mansfield.

Just before kick off, the home secretary said he would ref and to be fair he had a good match, whilst the visitors team talk was to give all players a run out regardless of the result. I was soon joined by local ground hopper Neil Woolley and then ex Glapwell's Paul Hepworth and his young baby.

The game kicked off and within 76 seconds, the visitors took the lead when a crossed ball found the head of a attacker on the far post. On 10 minutes FC Mansfield doubled their lead, when a cross shot from the left side made it 2-0.

The Painters pressed forward and on 13 minutes were back in the game when a player turned and hooked the ball in to the back of the net to reduce the arrears. This seemed to spur the homesters on and they were level on 22 minutes when a cross from the right wing was met close home to make it 2-2.

The home keeper Daz Milnes who against played for the visitors on Saturday for Ashland Rovers pulled off two very good saves and whilst the visitors complained that a ball had gone out for a corner, a quick goal kick was taken and within 20 seconds Painters had taken the lead on 36 minutes.

The Second Half kicked off and both sides switched players around to give them game time, FC pushed forward whilst Painters defence stood tall to preserve their lead, but on 72 minutes, their attacker took on the FC defence and struck a shot from some 25 yards out to extend their lead to 4-2.

On 76 minutes FC scored from further distance to reduce the arrears, with 78 minutes on the clock, confusion looked rund the ground as the stand in referee blew for full time, players were taking down nets, FC manager spoke to the ref and he admitted human error that he thought he had kicked off the second half at 7.15pm and blew at 8pm though it must have been 7.25pm he began the second half. Both sides have agreed to play each other again at Yeoman Hill Park in 2 weeks time, it was a good work for both teams and I think tonight everyone saw, its not easy being a ref.

92 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK