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Player/Manager Ryan Owens reports on his side's 0-0 draw at Witham Town on Saturday 26 January 2008
The squad was back to its normal looking self as the first team players from Tuesday evening were back at Stoneylands, we welcomed back the under 18 players and Karl Delves who has been missing for several weeks.
The trip to Witham was going to be a tough one as they currently sit 2nd in the Division but after the game the lads can be disappointed that they didn't end up with all 3 points from the afternoon's affair.
Both teams settled early with both midfields trying to carve out opportunities for the lively forward lines of both sides. There was lots of football to admire from both sides, playing the game how it should be, on the floor, pass and move.
The first real opportunity fell to the Witham substitute who rose in the box to meet a cross which he firmly planted against the Melford bar. Where as on Tuesday we stood and didn't react, today everybody was switched on with a defender clearing the ball to safety. Mansfield made a vital interception when another cross found its way into the box but he plucked it off the toes of the on-rushing forward to keep the scores level.
Just before half time Melford had the first of their great opportunities to take the lead, neat play from Mark Dack saw him play the ball out from the back, after a neat one two with Stuart Alston he played a delightful ball through to the impressive Jack Taylor who found himself with only the keeper to beat. Unfortunately the keeper made a tremendous save to push the ball away for a corner. Again he was called into action as direct from this corner he had to be alert to watch Smith's header drift just wide of the far post.
The players came in at half time in need of the break as they had worked their socks off to more than match the team sitting in 2nd place, we could have been 1 nil up and where playing with confidence but also control.
The 2nd half saw the Melford charges carry on the hard work from the first half. The midfield pairing of Taylor and Statham winning the battle against their more experienced counterparts!
The hard working Alston was replaced by Delves after 65 minutes to give us some fresh impetus. This nearly payed dividends straight away when some nice work from Delves found Smith in the box who saw his shot neatly saved by the excellent Witham keeper.
The next opportunity fell to Dack who again looked threatening in the air from set pieces all afternoon. Another delightful ball from the ever consistent Cook was met by Dack at the far post again to see the keeper make a good save to keep the sides level.
It looked like that there was only one side going to win the match, Melford were pushing forward trying to find the goal they richly deserved. Owens came on for Smith and maybe should have scored the winning goal when put through by Delves, the keeper managed to get a hand to his lob shot that looked liked it was finding its way into the corner.
It was starting to feel that these missed chances might be expensive as the Witham side have lots of quality and you always worry that they might sneak a goal and steal the points. They did nearly that but a fine tackle from Statham in the penalty area cleared one opportunity, Mansfield rushing from his line to smother at the feet of the Witham forward another.
At the final whistle, although delighted with a point away from home we could have come away with all three that the lads performance deserved. They worked so hard all afternoon and richly deserved more from the game. Yet again we have gone to a top side and matched them and that is so pleasing as a manager to see the lads put into practice everything we have asked off them, long may it continue!!!
Team: Mansfield, Cook, Dack, Barr, Green, Simpson, Taylor, Statham, Clark, Alston, Smith Subs: Delves, Bennett, Owens
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