AFC BULL FARM (Mansfield Woodhouse).....5 AFC WALTON.....7.
AFC Walton were given a very stern test in thier last pre-season game at Mansfield Woodhouse this morning. Benny, who was celebrating his 100th game in charge of the club had a very strong squad to choose from, although 3 key players were still missing from the line up kicked down the slope in the first half, and soon got into gear, with Bettneys raking pass picking out Wright who beat his marker before finding Mitchell just inside the area, the striker twisted and turned free of the defender and played in LEE WALTON to fire in a crisp drive on just 3 mins. They increased thier lead just 2 minutes later when a Bull Farm defender was caught napping 20 yards from his goal, an alert JORDAN SPENCER making his debut after his move from Spital F.C. calmly robbed him of the ball, rounded the keeper in one swift move and stroked the ball into the empty net.
AFC pushed the home side back and went close on 10 mins, Masons cross found Spencer, but his header flashed just wide. Lee Wright chasing down a through ball collided, with the hosts keeper on 14 mins, coming off worst in the clash, and had to be replaced by Danny Brown, after he left the field clutching his shoulder. This started a period where AFC were slightly dis-jointed for a while, culminating in a bizarrly unlucky own goal, Shane Bennett out on the wing found himself with nowhere to go, knocked back a seemingly harmless back pass to his keeper, Furniss who allowed for what was a very bobbly pitch saw the ball pass completely under his boot and into the net. Lee Walton picked out Mitchell who rounded the advancng keeper, clipping his shot goalwards, only to see a fine last ditch clearance from a defender on the goaline. Bull Farm the enjoyed a fine 10 minute spell, forcing the visitors back on thier heels. A ball through the middle cut AFC open, but the striker was wasteful, and fired over. Moments later another raking ball through the middle saw Furniss harshly adjudged to foul the attacker and concede a penalty.The Hosts Captain however dragged his spot kick wide.
Bull Farm then pulled the scores level just after the half hour, a fine ball in from the wing saw the striker cut across Silcock in defence and slip the ball past Furniss. AFC didnt take long to regain the lead, a smart corner saw MITCHELL and Bennett trading passes into the box, with the former threading his shot through the keepers legs for 3-2. AFC then took control finding the net another FOUR times before the half time break. firstly Mitchell picked out Mason who skipped into the box before being tripped for a penalty, after a slight disagreement LEE WALTON placed the ball on the spot, smashing the ball home. Mitchell was then substituted after complaining of feeling unwell seeing Miles replacing him. On 42 mins Browns pass found the industrious Walton who hung a great cross up to the back post for MASON to climb and nod the ball home. Mason tuned provider within 60 seconds playing BROWN through, he skipped past the advancing keeper to roll the ball into the empty net. BROWN then put a glowing end to the half after Bennett played him through, he fired his shot across the keeper and into the far corner of the net. HALF TIME AFC Bull Farm...2 AFC Walton....7.
Benny then changed things around after the break, making 3 changes to the 11 on the pitch, Megyesi, Bennett and Ricky Silcock making way for his brother Jerome, and Higginbottom and Bonson on for the others. AFC had the best of the early 2nd half play, hoping to add to the score and break the hosts resolve. Afree kick 3 minutes in saw Mason rise again, but this time his smart header spun just wide with the keeper rocking on his heels. The same player went agonisingly close again on 56 mins, this time a fine run by Bown played Mason in with a crisp pass but his fierce shot was pulled just wide. On the hour Bull Farm were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when a striker went over in the box, the Referee looked but adjudged the striker to have dived. This saw a slight altercation, but the official was quick to nip it in the bud.
Right on the hour mark Bull Farm pulled a goal back, a terribly short throw in by Bettney saw an attacker rob the ball, run through and fire a shot that Furniss parried away, but the hosts reacted quicker to stab the ball home. AFC began to get sloppy and passes were going astray falling short of thier intended targets. Bull Farm were bouyant and started to boss the midfield, pushing Walton back for long eriods. It wasnt long before they breached the visitors defence, a corner swung in cleared Miles, was well controlled and swept home for 7-4. There was a marked difference in the play with Bull Farm forcing the issue, and AFC having to rely on telling tackles. Up front they began to over elaborate, choosing to try and walk the ball in instead on shooting. As time wore on it looked like AFC had survived any more scares, but the last word went to the hosts when another mistake allowed them to grab a FIFTH goal with 7 mins left. AFC BULL FARM....5 AFC WALTON....7
