Wham Stadium, home of Accrington Stanley based in Lancashire and play their trade in League 2. “Accrington Stanley, who are they? Exactly!” Is a phrase well known to this club from an old advert. They are nicknamed “The ‘Owd Reds” which I’m guessing is a Lancashire saying?
350 grounds up! Maybe not the ground I would have picked for this milestone but certainly one on my Mansfield away day list for this season and what a day to be stood on the away terrace! My first away day experience with the Shirebrook Stags!
So it’s on to the M1 to the M62 and onto the M66 for the first stop of the day in Burnley at Ighten Leigh Social Club. We’ve got Pool, Darts, a beer garden, Guinness, Bradford City vs Grimsby where Danny Rose has made it 1-0 to Grimsby just on half time and a very friendly and fun barman!
Time to say goodbye to Ighten Leigh and head over to the ground now! We’ve pulled up at Accrington Academy and now the walk over to the ground. £20 to get in here! Not too shabby! A few familiar faces as always in the Mansfield end none other than vlogger The Mansfield himself who’s going for a 1-0 win for Mansfield with Davis Keillor-Dunn to score, let’s hope he’s right!
“ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ!” Mansfield fans in fine voice already! Out come the teams to this tropical heat! It’s Accrington Stanley away for the Yellow & Blue Army! COME ON YOU YELLOWS! Out come the teams to this tropical heat! It’s Accrington Stanley away for the Yellow & Blue Army! COME ON YOU YELLOWS!
Kick Off! Allez Allez Allez still echoing around this open terrace so far! 20 minutes in and Mansfield have it down the right, it’s played in towards George Maris who heads it back across goal… No one there and Accrington clear.
3 minutes later and Accrington come forward, it’s played into the box towards Andrews… He’s headed wide and now for a quick drinks break.
29 minutes on the clock and Mansfield play down the right again, it’s played across to Davis Keillor-Dunn who controls… AND WHAT A FINISH! An Overhead kick into the top corner! What a goal!!! Mansfield lead in Lancashire! 0-1!
36 minutes now and Mansfield come forward again, it’s played to Keillor-Dunn on the right who plays it across to George Maris who gets there… IT’S TWO!!! Mansfield double their lead!!! GET IN!! 0-2!
Into stoppage time in the first half and Accrington come forward, Nolan has it 25 yards out and he’s got space to shoot… Good save by Pym! Mansfield lead 2-0 at the break.
Second half, 57th minute and can Accrington get back into the game here…? Andrews has the ball from 25 yards and he’ll shoot… Pym parries and here’s Nolan for the rebound… He’s missed! I’m not complaining but that should be 1-2!
2 minutes later and here comes Boateng for Mansfield, 25 yards out and he goes for the curler… Oooooh! Just wide!
75 minutes now and the ball is played back to the Accrington keeper who hits it up field… Not very far up field only to Aaron Lewis who’s gone for goal on the volley first time……… OH MY WORD! It’s landed in the net!! That is goal of the season already surely!! WHAT A GOAL!!! 0-3! Mansfield surely with the 3 points now!
14 minutes of added time in this heat with Mansfield pushing for a fourth… But they will have to settle for 3!
FT: Accrington Stanley 0-3 Mansfield Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 6/10 – Pretty good again from the Mansfield fans!! Didn’t hear anything from the other end…
- The Ground: 5/10 – Nothing special unfortunately, would be a great Non-League ground but not too special for the EFL sadly…
- Expense: 9/10 – £20 to get in, £17 to travel with the Shirebrook Stags and a bit more on food and drink. Not too bad!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – Another great win for Mansfield and a decent day out all in all!
28/40