Handsworth FC 1-2 AFC Mansfield – Match Report

An impressive performance from the prolific Ross Duggan sealed a fourth consecutive league victory for AFC Mansfield.

The Bulls came into the NCEL Premier Divison game off the back of exiting the FA Vase at the hands of step 10 side Stone Old Alleynians.

The visitors made an explosive start at Olivers Mount and they got their reward when Ross Duggan continued his impressive goal-scoring form with a cool finish past Ben Townsend inside 18 minutes.

Handsworth grew into the game and had a number of chances to level up the game before the break.

Ant Mackie hit the post after a decent spell of Ambers pressure before Leon Howarth had two chances to level up the score; Hugo Warhurst and the AFC Mansfield defence stayed strong.

Kyle Jordan came close just before the break; he moved well around a defender but his shot was saved well by Warhurst.

Handsworth did find their equaliser straight after the break – Leon Howarth’s sixth goal of the season was one to remember.

Howarth did brilliantly as he curled his effort past Warhurst and into the top left corner.

The bulls reacted well to being pegged back, their lead was restored thanks to Ross Duggan.

The forward scored his eleventh goal in his sixth league game of the season, his deflected strike skipped past Ben Townsend.

Duggan came close to sealing the victory for AFC Mansfield with a number of efforts.

The striker hit the post with his left foot before his goal was chalked off for offside, the league’s top scorer then hit the bar as he continued to search for a third goal for himself and AFC Mansfield.

Handsworth applied pressure to find an equaliser but the Ambers couldn’t find it through efforts from Bailey Hobson, Leon Howarth and Sam Smith.

Matt Chatfield’s side again came close to scoring a third, Duggan turned provider for substitute Ross Sykes, who rounded keeper Townsend before he missed the wide and open goal.

Despite a number of missed chances throughout it turned out to be a big win for AFC Mansfield, who have moved up to fourth in the NCEL Premier Divison table.

Hosts, Handsworth drop down in the table – the ambers now sit in eighth position and they will remain there until December 2 at the very earliest, with the national lockdown meaning all ‘non-elite’ sport has been temporarily suspended.