GOALS FROM STOKES AND BROWN PROVE NOT ENOUGH AS FTYBR SLIP TO ANOTHER DEFEAT

The Stags Supporters side, FTYBR FC suffered their sixth defeat in the last seven games last weekend, but again it could and indeed should have been much different.

In the first ever meeting between a supporter’s side from Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town, hopes were high that the recent run of poor results would come to an end. Indeed, for long periods of the 1^st half the lads from Mansfield had plenty of possession but without troubling the home keeper too much, that was until Drew Stokes burst through and hammered in his 4^th goal of the season. It was a justified half time lead.

Inspirational centre half, James Brunt was forced to leave the field injured halfway through the first half, but it was hoped that the Mansfield side would go onto add further goals in the 2^nd period.

Those hopes were dashed when Rovers equalised on 50 minutes. A great move down the left and a superb cross was met by an even better header. It was 2-1 to the home side on 61 minutes when the Mansfield side failed to react to a near post shot that had hit the post and the Rovers centre forward finished from close range. It was a bitter setback but with all credit to Rovers who were showing the more clinical edge in front of goal.

Eight minutes from time and with Mansfield chasing an equaliser, Rovers won a corner and added a third. For the first time in the game, heads began to drop. There was slight consolation two minutes from time when James Brown thundered in a 25 yard free kick to make the score 3-2 but despite a frantic couple of minutes added on time, Rovers held on for the victory.

On April 2^nd the team travel to Huddersfield for the Land Ut Gods tournament, before the following weekend making the short trip to Scunthorpe United before going onto watch The Stags take on Lincoln City in the afternoon.

The sides’ next home game is on the 15^th April when they play host to a Rotherham United side challenging hard for the IFA title. Please feel free to come along and support the side. The game takes place at Abbott Road, Mansfield with an 11 am kick off.

Just a word of special thanks this week for the SSA. They have kindly agreed to sponsor the sides entrance into Worldnet which takes place at Leeds University on the 22^nd and 23^rd of July. It is the first time that a side under the name of Mansfield Town has entered as one of the 64 teams taking part.

Recent results.

Northampton Town (H) 2-2 – Sharpe, J Bird.

Bristol Rovers (A) 2-3 – Stokes, Brown.

Squad

Sankey, Coupe, Holmes, Wheatman, Brunt, J Bird, Brown, Sharpe, Ploughman, Stokes, G Bird, Scothron, Waddington, Clark, Cross.