Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Armthorpe Welfare 1-1 AFC Mansfield
Armthorpe Welfare manager Mike Carmody
Armthorpe Welfare produced probably their best display of the season to come from behind and deservedly take a point from AFC Mansfield, although Mike Carmody will no doubt be a little disappointed not to take all three points after dominating much of the game.
AFC Mansfield took the lead in the fifth minute when, following some early pressure, former North Ferriby United striker Gary Bradhsaw hit a low shot on the turn just inside the far corner from the edge of the box giving Welfare ’keeper Adam Stevens no chance.
After weathering the early pressure from the visitors the Welfare stated to impose themselves on the game and Darren Mansaram tried his look with a 30 yard snapshot in the 16th minute that Jason White in the Mansfield goal held onto well at full stretch.
Two minutes later strike partner Liam Radford shot wide from 20 yards as the Welfare started to probe the visitors defence.
Three minutes before half time Craig Aspinall and Mansaram combined brilliantly for Aspinall to run at the Mansfield defence before sending a shot from the edge of the box past White and into the roof of the net.
On 48 minutes a good cross from Tom McLaughlin on the left saw Gary Collier go down inside the box under a challenge from Mark Dudley as he tried to reach the ball but claims for a penalty were waved away by referee Paul Tomes.
Mansfield broke two minutes later with Ryan Williams forcing Stevens to block well inside the box but Welfare were soon back on the attack just before the hour mark as McLaughlin cut into the box from the left before seeing his curling cross cleared off the line by Dudley.
Another rare Mansfield break saw Williams clip the bar from close range on 69 minutes and ten minutes later Welfare felt aggrieved when substitute Danny Bulman saw his 25 yard volley blocked by a defender’s arm on the edge of the box but again the officials were unimpressed.
The other used Welfare substitute Steven Lyons had a chance to win the game in the 88th minute when he was sent clear as White came out of his goal but Lyon’s couldn’t get enough power on his attempted lob, enabling White to save.
The Team
Armthorpe Welfare: Stevens, Bonser, Waldron, Olssen, Gibbons, Garner, Collier, Aspinall, Mansaram (Lyons 50), Radford, McLaughlin (Bulman 72). Subs: Collins, Goodwin, Williams