The Bulls expected a difficult afternoon at 3rd placed Thackley, but in reality, they comfortably took 3 away points back to Nottinghamshire with a disciplined and professional performance. In doing so, they inflicted Thackley with their biggest defeat of the season and kept their first league clean sheet this term.
A spectacular overhead kick from Gary Bradshaw opened the scoring, Jason White doubled the lead from the spot and Matty Plummer completed the scoring in the 2nd half.
In the opening minutes Jimmy Ghaichem put in two telling crosses that the visitors failed to capitalise on. Ghaichem was to cause havoc at the back for Thackley until he was substituted 15 minutes from time to a big round of applause.
Danny Naylor fired wide on 10 minutes from a Bradshaw corner and at the other end Ben Joyce saw his header clip the post on 18 minutes.
The Bulls took the lead on 21 minutes, Ghaichem and Plummer worked a throw in on the right flank and found Ryan Williams with the cross. Williams played a neat chip into the box for Bradshaw. The striker was a little in front of the ball but a superb overhead kick saw the ball rocket past Matt Covey in the Thackley goal.
White saved comfortably from a low Joyce drive on 29 minutes. 3 minutes later and AFC Mansfield doubled their lead. Ghaichem wriggled his way into the box and was upended by Jerome White. Jason White came forward and smashed the ball past Covey for his 3rd penalty conversion this season.
Jerome White was shown a straight red card after a very high tackle on Ryan Williams that left the winger needing treatment.
Danny Naylor was booked at the beginning of the 2nd half and then nearly increased AFC’s lead when he just failed to connect to a through ball from Matt Plummer.
Two chances for the home side but Broadbent and Joyce both fired straight at Jason White.
Jon D’Laryea found Ghaichem out on the right, the wingers low cross found Bradshaw whose neat turn and shot was deflected for a corner on 70 minutes. From the corner Bradshaw played a short pass to Plummer who turned past two defenders before curling his shot past Covey for Mansfield’s 3rd goal.
The fight had gone out of Thackley now and the visitors were able to stroke the ball about in midfield. Bradshaw was sent clear by D’Laryea but his chipped effort just cleared the bar.
AFC Mansfield will now turn their attentions to Tuesday night when they visit Armthorpe Welfare.
Thackley AFC: Covey, Whiteley, Scott, McGuire (C), White Je (Foulds 75), Snowden, Farrell, Howe, Broadbent (Brown 72), Robinson (Bentham 67), Joyce. Subs not used: Wilson L
AFC Mansfield: White Ja, Plummer, Dudley, Allott, Timons (C), D’Laryea, Williams, Naylor (Annable 80), Patterson, Bradshaw, Ghaichem (Karkach 75). Subs not used: Wilson B, Wright & Madin.
Referee: Mr Richard Holmes (Preston)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Johnson (Preston) & Mr Keith Martin (Preston)
Attendance: 138
MoM: Gary Bradshaw