Report

Mundford travelled to another in form side Attlborough Town this past Saturday for their first game after a two week lay off. The Stags were also looking to carry on their good recent run that has seen them collect 15 points from a possible 18 in their last 6 league games with Town also boasting a similar record.

The manager was forced into making a few changes to the side with Yates, Suckling, Candler & Massingham all coming in for the absent Waites, Quantrill, Barnes, Kenny & Jensch. With no recognised strikers in the squad Rose took his place up front alongside Mcisaac in an unfamiliar front pairing. The returning Suckling slotted in as left wingback as Thorogood dropped to the bench with Candler & Masssingham being late addition to the squad.

The Stags preparations also took a blow before kick off with the news that Anglian Combination Referee hadn’t turned up leaving one of the Attleborough staff having to take charge of the game. Despite his reluctance the gaffer decide to agree with the match going ahead to prevent both sides having a fixture pile up come the end of the season.

Mundford started the game slowly & definitely looked like a team who had just had a two week lay off. It wasn’t long before Attleborough had their first attack with Clements making a good save from a fierce shot by Whitman. It was then Town who continued to dominate the opening 15 minutes playing some neat football with Mundford giving the hosts far to much time of the ball.

The hosts then took a deserved lead all be it from a dubious penalty decision which saw Mundford’s captain Williams get tangled with the Town midfielder as they both went to ground. The stand in ref pointed to the spot with Attleborough’s captain Wright sending Clements the wrong way to give the home team the lead.

The goal managed to have a positive effect on the side with Mundford starting to get more into the game & having their fair share of possession. Rose & Mcisaac then went close & should have done better with there efforts. Then the hosts were denied a stone wall penalty as Groves seemed to take the trailing leg of the Town winger with the stand in ref refusing to be drawn on the challenge after giving such a soft penalty about 5 minutes previous to the incident as it remained 1-0.

It wasn’t until deep into first half injury time until Mundford got their equaliser when Green delivered a decent ball in from a Mundford corner which found the unmarked Yates at the back post as he powered his header past the stranded keeper to take the game into the break at 1-1.

The Stags started the second half a lot stronger than the first & immediately started to disjoint the Attleborough defence. The gaffer then made his first of two substitutions with Thorogood replacing the hard working Rose & reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation. This instantly changed the pattern of the game with Thorogood turning the hosts left back inside & out whilst putting some excellent balls into the penalty box.

As Mundford pushed for the lead Town were still looking dangerous on the counter attack & 20 minutes from time were gifted their second goal from what seemed to be nothing. After a Boro counter attack slowed up Maslin managed to pick the ball up on the edge of the 18 yard box & instead of clearing his lines played a poor cross field pass to his defensive partner Williams as Town’s striker Whitman intervened & when one on one with the keeper slotted his shot past Clements to put the hosts back in the lead. Massingham then entered the field of play replacing Mcisaac as Mundford pushed for the equaliser. 

A couple of excellent one on one challenges from Yates & Miller then followed to keep the score at 2-1 before deep into stoppage time Williams who had been pushed up into midfield for the remaining 5 minutes of the game got on the end of Massingham’s downward  header as he prodded the ball into the back of the net to give Mundford a well deserved away point.

Match Analysis:

Once again Mundford’s never say die attitude managed to earn themselves a point on a boggy pitch in poor footballing conditions against one of the top sides in the division. The team however may feel that they still had done enough to win the game despite scoring a late equaliser but on the whole should be very pleased with the way they clawed back the hosts twice to take a share of the spoils.

To score two goals away from home against a team who have been sitting pretty towards the top of the table for much of the season is not an easy accomplishment, which was made even more difficult by the fact the Stags didn’t have a recognised out & out striker within the squad with Waites, Barnes & Quantrill all unavailable.

The manager however will be pleased with how his players dug in deep to get something from the game & keep their good recent run going. With the return of a few key players next weekend along with playing the bottom side Hempnall Res at the Glebe the Stags should be confident of taking a maximum 3 points from their next fixture.

Hosts Man of the Match: Steven Wright – The captain’s performance was merited with his early strike from the penalty spot.