Tristan strikes twice, but AFC are held at Main

Despite a brace from striker Tristan Whitman, AFC Mansfield had to settle for a point at Rossington Main in the NCEL Division One on Saturday.

The Bulls were without striker Dean Rick, midfielder Joe Naylor and central defender Kyle Ludlow for the trip to Rossington’s Oxford Street ground.

AFC Mansfield were on the front foot straight away and Danny Naylor saw his 25 yard effort saved by keeper Jordan Wildey after just two minutes.

Scott Rickards fed the ball out to Carl Haslam on the right flank on six minutes, Haslam cut inside and hit a curling effort from the edge of the box that had Wildey beaten but drifted inches wide of the far post.

But the Bulls went in front on 11 minutes as a curling right hand corner from Danny Williams was met by Tristan Whitman’s head. The ball hit the post and was then hooked away, but the linesman signalled the ball had crossed the line.

Rossington could have equalised on 16 minutes when Lee Holmes found himself with a shot on goal, unfortunately his effort was always rising over the bar.

The pressure continued at the other end and Zak Oakshott sliced a clearance over the bar from a cross by Whitman.

The home side were back on level terms on 24 minutes when Shaun Pendleton picked the ball up 30 yards out and was given the space and time to unleash an unstoppable drive that flew into the top right hand corner of the net.

However, AFC didn’t have too wait long to regain the lead. Just three minutes later and Rickards released Williams down the left.

Williams wriggled past three defenders before pulling the ball back across the six yard box to Whitman, who had the simplest of finishes for his second of the game.

AFC Mansfield looked content to defend their slender lead after the break.

But pressure began to mount and on the hour mark successive blocks in the six yard box were just a sign of things to come.

Jason White got down well on 63 minutes to save from Jordan Hatton’s edge of the box low drive.

But Rossington drew level on 76 minutes after a series of first time passes opened up the visitors’ defence and the ball eventually found Niall Doyle, who fired past White from 12 yards.

This did wake AFC Mansfield up and Naylor and Buxton went close from outside the box.

Then both Naylor and Brewin went close in the dying minutes, but Rossington held out to salvage a point from the game.

AFC return home on Wednesday when they take on Bottesford Town, kick off is 7.45pm.

ROSSINGTON MAIN: Wildey, Baldry, Shrimpton, Pendleton, Fielding, Oakshott, Bennett, Hatton, Holmes, Doyle, Billam. Subs not used: Green, Ringsell, Marquis, Woodhall.

AFC MANSFIELD: White, Wilson, Dudley, Kitchen, Timons, Naylor D, Rickards, Buxton, Whitman, Haslam, Williams. Subs not used: Vilums, Meehan, Saxby.

REFEREE: David Jones of Lincolnshire.

ATTENDANCE: 86.

AFC MAN OF THE MATCH: Ashley Kitchen.

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