Toolstation NCEL Division One
AFC Mansfield 1-1 Westella VIP
Westella VIP manager Leon Sewell and his side nearly won at AFC Mansfield
Westella VIP picked up a valuable point away at promotion-chasing AFC Mansfield after leading until the final 15 minutes.
Historically VIP have always come away empty handed from The Forest Town Ground, the last visit saw a heavy 6-0 defeat, something which manager Leon Sewell certainly did not want to happen again.
The game opening up in typical NCEL fashion, neither side dictating play, general poor ball retention players quickly becoming frustrated with their opposite number resulting in a number of free kicks.
After the first 25 minutes the game opened up a little bit and became more open, VIP counter attacking after a Mansfield opportunity failed to come to anything. VIP captain Matt Fyvie found himself one on one with the left back Lukw Jeffs. Fyvie passed him with ease delivering a perfect cross that was headed clear to Neil Sheppard who played the ball out to the left after seeing Andy Coverdale go pass the right back. Marriott, with the drop of a shoulder, delivered a superb cross for the on coming Brett Thomas who bravely threw himself at the ball to head home from close range.
The goal settled both sides down, AFC Mansfield continued with their direct approach whilst the back four of VIP dealt with everything that was thrown at them.
On the stroke of half time AFC Mansfield recorded their first shot on target which saw a fine save down in the bottom left hand corner from Westella goalkeeper Derek Peat.
The second half saw the home side with the majority of possession yet could find no way through the organised Westella side.
The returning Chris Spinks was introduced with 20 minutes to play and was straight in on the action. Neat link up play between Spinks and Fyvie saw Joe McFadyen break through the Mansfield defence with a late deep run, the ball taking a deflection off a home play, McFadyen took one touch and looked up and from 40 yards lobbed the home keeper only for the linesman on the far side to give McFadyen offside despite the deflection and late run.
Fifteen minutes remaining and the home side got the equaliser, ex Hull City winger Ryan Williams taking the corner was whipped in at pace for Mansfield’s Chris Timmons to head home from close.
The hosts nearly took the lead shortly after as a ball over the top caught the VIP defence out, on hand was VIP keeper Peat able to come and bravely dive at the feet of the Mansfield number 10 feet.
With five minutes to play VIP caught the hosts out after playing the ball out from the back, Spinks breaking away saw a long switch to Alex Wood who headed the ball down for the oncoming Sheppard to volley inches over the bar with the home keeper well beaten.
Westella VIP manager Leon Sewell: “A point was probably a fair result in terms of possession and chances throughout the game. We knew we would have a big job on our hands from the off but the discipline and determination of the lads to not let them find any gaps to play through us was fantastic.
“When we had the ball we looked creatvie and got in to some good area’s and we also exploited them very well on the counter attack which is where our goal come from with a brave header from Brett Thomas.
“The lads now understand what is needed from them week in week out to compete and be consistent in this league and that has shown so far as we have picked up 4 points from two games in 4 days. We must now take the confidence in to Wednesday night’s home game against Yorkshire Amateur.”
Westella VIP: Peat, Dodson, Coverdale, Sheppard, Atkinson, Williamson, Wood, Thomas, Fyvie (captain), Flounders, McFadyen. Subs: Andrew, Hewitt, Spinks, Stone, McIntyre.