Bright start, but AFC Mansfield’s hopes disappear in the fog

Leading 2-1 at half-time, the Bulls looked on course for an away victory in new manager Rudy Funk’s first league game in charge.

But in the opening 10 minutes of the second half the game was virtually thrown away, the visitors conceding two soft goals to put them on the back foot for the remainder of the game.

The Bulls started brightly, Carl Haslam making a series of runs down the left flank, and on one such run he cut inside and unleashed a low drive which Rob Poulter did well to turn around the post after just five minutes.

But AFC Mansfield went in front on 14 minutes as a superb cross from the right by Danny Tighe found Nathan Benger who climbed above everybody to power home his header into the right hand corner of the net.

However, the lead was short-lived when two minutes later, while attempting to clear a high ball into the box, Gavin Saxby was guilty of bowling over Lewis Dickinson and a penalty was given.

Dickinson sent Saxby the wrong way and the scores were level.

The Bulls were back in front when another fine delivery from Tighe, this time from a free kick on the left flank, saw the initial delivery blocked by Jones on the near post but, after a scramble in the box ,the ball came across to Joe Naylor who fired home from six yards.

There was every reason for optimism, but that was well and truly laid to rest in an awful opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Firstly a whipped in free kick took a deflection off the wall and then cannoned off Kyle Ludlow, leaving Saxby stranded as the ball flew into the net for an equaliser on 52 minutes.

Three minutes later and Dickinson was allowed the time to pick up a loose ball on the edge of the box, turn and pick his spot as Tighe and Ludlow dawdled to close him down.

AFC Mansfield were now chasing the game as the fog worsened considerably.

It had been there all game, but with the light going and the fog getting worse it was difficult at times to see further than 20m.

So Penistone’s fourth goal on 78 minutes was a complete mystery, though scored by Tom Jones, as stood on the halfway line it was impossible to see what had happened.

Substitutions were made and were only identified when the players came over to the side opposite to the dugouts.

The Bulls pulled a goal back through Scott Rickards on 86 minutes as his 25 yard drive flew home through the fog.

This set up a tense few minutes for the home side but they stood firm to take the points.

This was three points given away by some poor defending which this will need to be addressed in the coming weeks.

However, there is no rest for AFC as they travel to Eccleshill Utd on Wednesday for the third round of the League Cup and then head down to Shepshed Dynamo for the second round of The FA Vase on Saturday.

PENISTONE CHURCH: Poulter, Lee, Howes, Jones, Whitehead, Lovell, Richards, Moore, Ring (Crossfield 80), Dickinson, Lavender. Subs not used: Young, Exley, Ellis, Briggs.

AFC MANSFIELD: Saxby, Tighe, Dudley, Ludlow, Timons, Rickards, Haslam, Naylor J (Naylor D 79), Rick, Benger (Whitman 60), Grayson (Buxton 64). Subs not used: Wilson, Williams.

Referee: Matt Tyers of South Yorkshire.

ATTENDANCE: 119.

BULLS MAN OF THE MATCH: Scott Rickards.

In midweek, in Funk’s first game at the helm, AFC Mansfield were pipped 1-0 by visiting Selston in their Notts FA Senior Cup second round tie.