The Mornflake Stadium, Gresty Road, home of Crewe Alexandra based in Cheshire and play their trade in League 2. Nicknamed the “Railwaymen…” Do they like trains? They do play pretty close to the train station as well, that could be why I suppose.
The end of September is coming up fast and I don’t know where to go… Radcliffe? South Normanton Athletic? In the end it was decided that for the first and certainly not the last time this season that I’m going to watch my beloved Mansfield Town who today face Crewe Alexandra! My first time watching Mansfield since that disgraceful play-off final performance and my second visit to Crewe after a 3-0 win back in 2018. Let’s hope for another 3 points today!
Now for the drive through the Peak District, into Cheshire and into Crewe with about 30 minutes to go before kick off. Thankfully the parking here at the ground and nearby is decent. 5 minutes walk and here I am at Gresty Road.
Over to the away ticket office. £25 to watch this League 2 tie! Steep! The Super Stag is here! Along with Jack G and Fez! Time rolls on and the atmosphere is building nicely in the away end!
“Every Saturday we follow! The Yellow and the Blue! You can hear us roaring! From the stands at Field Mill! In 1987! We won the Rovers Cup! And now you’re gonna believe us! The Stags are going up! Allez Allez Allez!” Out come the teams! It’s time for Mansfield once again for me!!
Kick Off! 6 minutes in and Mansfield play down the right with Kellan Gordon, he plays it into the box, it falls for Stephen Quinn who takes a touch and shoots… Deflected… Just wide! Corner, in it comes… It’s headed on and it goes out for a Mansfield throw in on the right hand side, it’s a long throw in… Mansfield concede a free kick.
16th minute now and Mansfield have a free kick on the right, in it comes… Ollie Hawkins with the header… Good save! Corner again for Mansfield, in it comes again… Punched away by the keeper, it goes out for a throw in on the right for Mansfield again, it’s played to George Maris who plays it into the middle, it’s headed out for a throw in on the left for Mansfield, it’s played in and Mansfield cross… Crewe clear.
As the game goes on, Mansfield continue to look the better of the 2 teams. 40 minutes now and Crewe have a corner now, it’s played in… Bassala Sambou with the header… Wide!
3 minutes later and Mansfield have another free kick on the right hand side, Stephen McLaughlin whips it in… And out for a goal kick.
1 minute after and Stephen McLaughlin drives forward for Mansfield, he gets to the edge of the box and lets fly… Just wide! Close! The score remains goalless at half time.
Second half, 49 minutes on the clock, Mansfield play forward down the left, it’s crossed in towards Ollie Clarke… It’s just too high for him and he heads over.
“Blue & Yellow barmy army!!” The atmosphere is picking up once again in the away end! Crewe fans are giving it some too.
60th minute and Mansfield once again have a free kick on the right hand side, it’s whipped in again, Riley Harbottle is free… It’s come off his knee and it rolls away… Big chance!!
62nd minute and Mansfield play a long throw in into the box… It’s headed away but only to Ollie Clarke who goes for the volley… OH! Brilliant save!! Corner again for Mansfield, in it comes again… Cleared but only to George Maris, Mansfield lose possession and give away a free kick.
68 minutes on the clock and Crewe play forward, the ball is played through for Dan Agyei who’s through in the box on the left and he shoots… OFF THE POST! It comes off the keeper and he claims the loose ball! So close there for Crewe!
2 minutes later and Crewe play forward down the left, it’s played to Courtney Baker-Richardson who charges into the box on the left, he shoots… He’s scored… Against the run of play and Crewe have the lead! Scenes behind the goal and they are taunting us big time here… 1-0!
“Since I was young! I followed them! CAFC! The team for me!” Crewe fans in good spirits now. “Yellow & Blue army!” Mansfield fans aren’t finished yet though!
Mansfield piling on the pressure now can they get that all important equaliser? 86th minute and Mansfield come again, it’s played to Will Swan who chests it and shoots from just outside the box… AND HE’S SCORED!!!! MANSFIELD ARE LEVEL!!!! They’ve deserved that!! FANTASTIC!! The away end goes ballistic!!! 1-1!!
“ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ!” The game rolls on and we have 8 minutes of stoppage time here… Don’t lose it Mansfield!! 90+2 minutes by my estimations and Mansfield come forward down the left, the ball is played into the middle, it’s in towards Ollie HAWKINS… OLLIE HAWKINS HAS GOT IT!!!!! I DO NOT BELIEVE IT!!! MANSFIELD HAVE STOLEN IT HERE!!! The man who got sent off in the play off final has surely won it for Mansfield here!!! He heads it home and the away end goes CRAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZZZZYYYYY!!!! 1-2!!
Play goes on and can Mansfield hold on here? 90+7 now and Crewe play down the right, it’s a deflected cross and it’s flicked towards goal by Baker-Richardson… OH! IT’S OFF THE LINE BY ELLIOTT HEWITT… Did it cross the line…? Play goes on… Was that a handball? Mansfield clear and we are safe for now… Mansfield have it in the Crewe half… THAT’S IT!!! WOW WOW WOW!!! First game back with the Stags and it is one of the best!! I owe Ollie Hawkins a pint!!
FT: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Mansfield Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 9/10 – Both sets of fans gave it a go but Mansfield once again were sensational! Throughout the game it did go quiet at times but the game does normally dictate the atmosphere… At the end it was something else though!!
- The Ground: 7/10 – It is a nice ground! Very close to the pitch which I like! The big stand is an eyesore! Apparently a good view from the top of the big stand as well!
- Expense: 10/10 – £25 for the ticker, £40 fuel and £2.50 for parking… Worth every penny today though!!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – One of my best days with Mansfield!! That’s it, that’s the tweet!!
36/40