Ash Flynn scored a hat-trick for AFC Emley, but his side still lost 5-3 to AFC Mansfield
Ash Flynn’s hat-trick wasn’t even enough for AFC Emley in the 5-3 defeat to AFC Mansfield at the Welfare Ground in Toolstation NCEL Division One.
After a rollercoaster ride of a first half, the sides went into the break level at 3-3, but two goals in the second half ensured the points went to Mansfield.
The game was barely a minute old when the away side took the lead. Mansfield’s eventual hat-trick hero Dean Rick chipped the ball over Adam Lawlor to give the visitors the best possible start.
Emley were level almost straight away. Jordan Coduri played in Flynn after some great work on the left and Emley had a free kick when Flynn was brought down just outside the box. Flynn took it and found the back of the net with an unstoppable shot.
Emley completed the turnaround in the 10th minute when Flynn tapped in his second after Mansfield failed to clear an Emley corner.
Emley’s lead lasted just 13 minutes as Rick headed in a free kick from the left to get his second of the game.
Emley regained the lead just four minutes later when Keiran Ryan cut the ball back for Flynn to fire in his hat-trick. Flynn almost set up another as Emley went in search of a two goal cushion. He got on the end of a long ball and managed to beat his man. He then pulled the ball back for Ryan but he missed the target from close range.
Emley failed to go into the break with the lead as Ryan Williams scored with a beautiful volley on 37 minutes.
The second half didn’t quite have the same excitement as the first but it proved to be the decisive period of the game. It was a much tighter affair as both sides improved defensively.
Williams then curled over a great effort for Mansfield but 10 minutes later Mansfield took the lead as Rick completed his hat-trick when he rounded Lawlor and tapped into the empty net.
Mansfield looked to see out the game and restricted Emley’s opportunities. Eventually, they got the all-important fifth goal which won them the game with 11 minutes to go. Rick nodded the ball down for Jake Park whose initial shot was saved but he tucked in the rebound.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Scrivens, D Ryan, Slack, Jerome (captain), Brennan, Graham, Coduri, Flynn, K Ryan, Jordan. Subs: Hallam, Cooper, Leech, Spicer.
Thanks to Paul Joannou from AFC Emley for this report.