The Bulls produced a scintillating all round performance to put 5 goals past previously unbeaten Albion Sports. Ollie Fearon lead the way with a personal tally of 4 with Gary Bradshaw clinically getting the 5th.
Ryan Williams was first to test the Albion goal with a 30 yard free kick that keeper Kyle Trenerry dealt with comfortably. The comfort was short lived when The Bulls went in front on 11 minutes. A corner from the left was only half cleared and was picked up by Gary Bradshaw out on the right flank. With 2 players closing him down and his back to goal a clever turn saw both defenders beaten and his cross found Ollie Fearon on the back post to head home and open the scoring.
Fearon went close on 23 minutes after good work from Ghaichem and Plummer, his low drive going inches wide of the right hand post. Albion Sports got back on level terms 2 minutes later when the ball was given away in the middle of the park. Albion broke quickly with the ball eventually finding the feet of Daniel Facey. AFC defenders thought they had done enough to deny the striker but from a tight angle he hit a powerful drive that with the help of a couple of deflections found its way into the net.
The Bulls restored their lead on 39 minutes after dominating play. Good work in the box from Bradshaw and Cotton the ball finding Fearon who drilled his shot past Trenerry for his 2nd.
Bradshaw did have the ball in the back of the net 2 minutes later after looping the ball over the keeper but a very late flag saw the goal chalked off.
The restart saw Fearon force Trenerry inot a save which he collected at the 2nd attempt and Facey hit the post after a neat turn in the AFC box.
A great cross from Williams on 55 minutes found Bradshaw’s head but too much power saw the ball fly over the bar. The Bulls were playing some great football and the midfield of D’Laryea, Cotton, Ghaichem and Williams seemed linked by telepathy as they poured forward.
Fearon scored AFC’s and his third goal of the game on 61 minutes after Ghaichem had sent him clear with a deft flick over a defender with Fearon passing the ball into the net.
4 minutes later and it was 4-1, Matty Plummer winning the ball in midfield before sending Bradshaw clear to fire past the keeper from 15 yards for a thoroughly deserved goal.
Albion were reduced to 10 men on 80 minuteswhen Myles Foley pulled Lynton Karkach back when he raced clear and was duly sent off being the last defender.
Cotton went close with a curling effort from just outside the box and his free kick was saved by Trenerry at full stretch minutes later.
The icing on the cake came in the last minute when Fearon dispossessed a defender on the left flank and raced into the box before driving the ball past the keeper for his 4th goal of the game.
A great performance from The Bulls and it will boost confidence going into the FA Cup game on Saturday.
AFC Mansfield: White, Dudley (Annable 80), Plummer, Allott, Wilson (Madin 72), D’Laryea, Williams (C), Cotton, Fearon, Bradshaw (Karkach 66), Ghaichem. Subs not used: Chadburn & Wright.
