AFC Mansfield stay on title course

Both teams were missing key players for this game and it was by no means a classic. But goals from Danny Wiltshire, Mark Carter and a brace from Craig Cantrell were enough to take AFC Mansfield one step closer.

The visitors had the first real chance of the game on 15 minutes, Sam Huetson getting into the box and firing a low drive that beat Dale Sheppard but drifted wide of the far post.

The home side struck back straight away with Buxton setting up Joe Naylor for a drive which zipped past the far post.

A great passing move on 24 minutes deserved a better finish as Naylor fired over the bar from the edge of the box.

There was a distinct lack of entertainment for the next 20 minutes as both sides gave the ball away consistently.

The Bulls broke the deadlock just before the break when Naylor was fouled 25 yards from goal.

Cantrell stepped up and curled a superb effort into the top corner. Charlie Dixon got a hand to it but only helped it into the net.

So many teams have put so much effort into the first half against AFC Mansfield and run out of steam in the second and Easington were no different as Naylor saw his shot hit the post on 55 minutes.

Cantrell bagged his second on 64 minutes when Sam Holmes released him down the left flank. Cantrell cut inside and into the box and fired a low drive that nestled into the bottom far corner of the net, despite Dixon again getting a hand to it.

Five minutes later it was 3-0, Cantrell turned provider sending Wiltshire clear and the striker drilled his effort into the back of the net.

Matt Draper headed wide on 82 minutes from a Phil Buxton free-kick and it looked as if the game was going to finish 3-0.

But with five minutes to go Carter, coming back from injury and the club’s second highest goal-scorer came on.

With three minutes left Carter received the ball in the box, held off his marker and slipped the ball past the advancing Dixon from 12 yards to make it 4-0.

AFC Mansfield have just six league games left and entertain Bentley Colliery on Saturday at The Forest Town Stadium.

A goal four minutes from time earned Glapwell all three points as they recorded a 2-1 victory over Thoresby CW at Fourth Avenue in the Central Midlands League North Division.

Glapwell started well, playing against the wind, and had the first chance after only two minutes when James Whitfield fired just over the bar after beating three defenders.

On 13 minutes they went ahead when a through ball by Brad Dowdall was sliced clear by a defender with the ball looping up to Jake Wharton, who brilliantly headed past Glenn McPherson from just inside the area.

Thoresby played some patient build-up and had chances to level when Jamie Tryner fired straight at Ryan Hopkins before a John Garnham long throw was flicked over the bar by Tony Buchanan.

Five minutes before the break, a big chance fell the home side’s way, but Shaun Wragg wasted a clear opportunity when he dragged his shot wide before at the other end Rob Holland fired over from Tom Robley’s cut-back.

The home side equalised on 54 minutes when Jamie Tryner headed home from a corner just moments after seeing an effort blocked on the line by Carl Vickers.

Ross Murcott also then saw an effort blocked on the line before Glapwell won it on 86 minutes when the ball fell kindly to Adam Seward who hit a first time effort from just outside the area.

That was not the end of the drama, though, as Aidon Spencer saw his shot come back off the post before Jamie Tryner was again denied by a goal line clearance as his header was brilliantly cleared by Ross Murcott with the final action of the game.