Another FA Cup game, another Step 3 side and another win for AFC Mansfield. The Bulls showed discipline and character to dispatch Coalville Town with an 83rd minute winner from Gary Bradshaw.
Coalville were on the front foot from the 1st minute with AFC Mansfield playing deeper than normal and allowing the home side plenty of possession in their own half and just inside their opponents. But after that space to play in was at a premium with the visitors making it difficult for Coalville to play their normal quick passing game.
The Bulls first effort on goal came after 10 minutes, Ollie Fearon turning and lifting his effort well over the bar. Bradley Mun went close on 16 minutes his effort going a yard wide of the right hand post.
Glyn Cotton then saw his 25 yard free kick easily held by Sean Bowles in the Coalville goal on 26 minutes and at the other end Alex Troke saw his low drive go inches wide of the far post.
A Ryan Williams curling effort went close and Matty Plummer saw his effort turned around the post for a corner. Fearon then thought he had broken the deadlock just before half time but his goal ruled out for offside. The 1st half ended with the home side have the lion’s share of possession but the visitors with probably the better chances.
Fearon had a chance 7 minutes into the restart which was always going wide. Coalville started to turn the heat up and Steve Towers went close on 55 minutes and around the hour mark Jason White saved well from a Munn stinging drive.
Troke fired over the bar from a corner and then came Coalville’s best chance of the game when Nat Watson wriggled ppast 3 defenders before firing a low drive that beat White but cannoned back off the right hand post and was hooked away to safety by Grant Allott.
Troke went close again before a melee in front of the dugout saw Liam Walshe kick out at Fearon and after consulting his assistant the referee produced a red card and the home side were down to 10.
This obviously handed the advantage to AFC Mansfield and in the 78th minute a superb delivery from Ryan Williams was met by the head of Gary Bradshaw and Bowles turned the ball over the bar one handed.
The goal came on 83 minutes, Glyn Cotton lifting the ball over 2 defenders for Bradshaw to fire home on the volley past Bowles to cue wild celebrations from the visitors bench. Coalville were reduced to 9 men when Danny Janno said a little too much to the referee regarding the goal.
Nonetheless, a very nervy last 10 minutes ensued for AFC, but they kept their nerve and when the final whistle blew the celebrations began.
Coalville Town: Bowles (C), Dean, Torr, Jenno, McAteer (Raven 87), Walshe, Woodward (Adams 60), Towers, Troke (Holmes 70), Watson, Munn. Subs not used: Coton, Dennis & Freeman.
AFC Mansfield: White, Plummer, Dudley, Allot (Madin 78)t, Timons (C), D’Laryea, Williams (Annablr 90 +3), Cotton, Fearon, Bradshaw, Ghaichem (Naylor 84). Subs not used: Chadburn, Wright, Karkach & Wilson.
Referee: Mr Aaron Bannister
Assistants: Mr Ricky Taylor & Mr Michael Trevethan
Attendance: 139