Challinor inspires 4-2 victory at Tamworth

Over 640 Stags fans packed into The Lamb and watched the lads record a fantastic 4-2 victory over 9 game unbeaten Tamworth on Saturday.

I didn’t attend so unfortunately I can’t write up a match report of my own but I will go over the key points in the game!I listened in on the radio and from going on that it sounded like we were sublime. The team was the same as what started at Stevenage apart from Scott Garner coming in to replace suspended Luke Jones.

Marriott

Silk-Garner-Foster-Nicholas

Challinor-Mills-Nix

Shaw-Duffy-Perry

It took us just 16 minutes to break down Tamworths defence. Challinor launched the ball in from a throw in and Rob Duffy managed to get on the end of it to make it 1-0. Duffy has found it hard to find the net since December but this was his 2nd goal in 5 games. He is a much improved player from when he joined us a year ago and it will be only a matter of time until he is scoring every other game again.

Just 3 minutes later and Tamworth had managed to get the score level. Defender Wylde managed to get free from his marker and he had a free header from a Tom Shaw cross. He made no mistake in finding the back of the net.  1-1.  We went back into just 2 minutes later though. Duffy flicked the ball and Shaw anticipated it perfectly and fired the ball into the bottom left hand corner from 15yards out.

It was now important not to concede another goal straight away. We didn’t! The game went on and the Stags made it 3-1 just before half time. Challinors long throw was involved again. He launched the ball in, Duffy flicked it on and new boy Andy Nicholas finished it off with a sweet strike into the bottom corner. 3-1. Just what we needed going into half time.

It was obvious that Tamworth were going to have a right good go at us in the second half. Their confidence was high and they had an unbeaten run that they wanted to keep intact. It took them just 4 minutes to get the first goal of the second half. Murdock who had only come on at half time got on the end of a flick on by Christie and fired the ball past Marriott. Tamworth were fired up for this even more now and the next goal was going to be crucial. If we got it the game would be pretty much over, but if Tamworth got it they would have momentum to probably go on and try and win the game.

Tamworth had two great chances to make it 3-3. Defender Wylde with them both. First he forced Marriott into what was described as a world class save diving towards his top corner and then minutes later he hit the bar with another header! But it was to be us who managed to grab the key goal.

It was Blair Sturrock of all people who managed to find the net! Challinor again playing a key role in the goal. He ran a fair length of the pitch and created the opportunity for Sturrock. Sturrock who had not scored for Mansfield cooly slotted the ball past the keeper with his left foot. The game was dead and buried. Tamworths unbeaten run was coming to an abrupt end and we ended our 3 game losing streak.

It was just what we needed to keep in touch with the play offs. Rushden and Luton both won their games at the weekend but York lost away to Ebbsfleet after they had Richard Brodie sent off for a disgusting challenge. This means he is suspended for Yorks game against us, which is great news. He is their leading goalscorer by a long way and is one of the main reasons York are where they are in the table.

Here and here are a couple of pictures of the following at Tamworth that somebody posted on the Stagsnet messageboard.

In other news Tim Sandercombe has LEFT the club as I expected.

Picture: Richard Parkes/MansfieldTown.net