AFC Mansfield clinch the title

Goals from Dean Rick, Mark Carter, Phil Buxton and a brace from Carl Haslam did the damage.

The visitors recorded the first chance on goal after five minutes, James Woodward heading narrowly wide of Dale Sheppard’s left hand post.

A poor backpass on 11 minutes saw Carl Haslam close down Mark Latham, Latham managed to get to the ball first but only succeeded in playing the ball into the path of Dean Rick, who rounded the keeper and finished from seven yards to set the home side on their way.

Things went from bad to worse two minutes later, Haslam pouncing on the loose ball and confidently firing past Latham to double the lead.

Another probing run from Haslam set up Rick for a simple finish, but the usually deadly Rick sliced his effort wide from six yards on 20 minutes.

Five minutes later it was 3-0, again a defensive error letting in Haslam, who guided his low drive past the keeper and in off the right hand post to leave Harworth shellshocked.

Both Haslam and Rick both went close for the home side, and then on the half hour mark Arron Blakey cut inside and unleashed a 20 yard drive that whistled inches past the far post.

This was one of only a few chances that the visitors had all game with the AFC defence showing why they had only conceded 21 goals all season. Joe Meehan was having a particularly good game, never missing a tackle or header.

The Bulls continued the onslaught in the second half, Rick going close on 52 minutes and then a minute later Joe Naylor’s fizzing 20 yard drive narrowly beating the left hand post.

However, it was 4-0 on 70 minutes, Darren Bettison seeing his 25 yard free-kick come back off the bar, but on hand was Mark Carter, who planted the ball in the far corner of the net with an acrobatic shot from above his head.

Carter should have doubled his tally on 81 minutes but, sent clear by Bettison, he lifted his effort over Latham but missed the target by a yard.

The scoring was completed on 85 minutes, the ball dropping to Phil Buxton just outside the area, his shot nestling into the back of the net, leaving Latham with no chance.

The celebrations began on the whistle as AFC Mansfield had secured the title with a game to spare. However, The Bulls need to dust themselves down because on Tuesday night they travel to South Normanton Athletic’s ground for the final of the Phoenix Floodlit Cup where they face Bulwell FC in a 7.30pm kick-off.

AFC MANSFIELD: Sheppard, Tighe (McGurk 64), Meehan, Draper, Timons, Naylor D (Bettison 64), Buxton, Naylor J, Rick (McCann 78), Haslam, Carter. Subs not used: Fletcher, Wilson.

HARWORTH COLLIERY: Latham, Hardman J, Taylor (Brewster 80), Woodward, Gee, Edmondson, Archer, Bownes, Walker (Smith 68), Blakey, Hardman S (Sides 62). Sub not used: Fox.

REFEREE: Mr Liam Somerset.

ATTENDANCE: 176.

AFC MAN OF THE MATCH: Joe Meehan.