Eastbourne Borough FC
Atkin (6)

Mansfield Town FC
D'Laryea (45)
Garner (78)

Team:

1 Lee Hook
9 Andy Atkin
5 Ben Austin
2 Darren Baker
26 Danny Brown (C)
11 Matt Crabb
7 Pat Harding
13 Jay Lovett
6 Marc Pullan
4 Matt Smart
29 Dan Smith

Substitutes:

18 Simon Wormull for Harding (66)
15 Nathan Crabb for Atkin (79)
22 Sam Gargan for Smith (79)
36 Xano
37 Michael Jordan

Team:

1 Alan Marriott
2 Gary Silk
3 James Kay
4 Jonathan D'Laryea (C)
5 Adrian Moses
8 Matt Somner
11 Michael Blackwood
14 Curtis Woodhouse
19 Scott Garner
24 Tomi Ameobi
28 Robert Duffy

Substitutes:

10 Anthony Howell for Duffy (89)
15 Louis Briscoe for Ameobi (72)
21 Aaron O'Connor for Kay (31)
26 Daniel Whatsize
33 Neil MacKenzie

Booked:
Silk

The 2nd ex-league cup arrived at Priory Lane in 2 weeks. Boro hoping to repeat the home victory over York the previous Saturday, Mansfield hoping to maintain a decent run of form. Hat-trick hero Andy Atkin passed a fitness test and started up front with Dan Smith, fans at 'The Lane' delighted at his extended stay at the club through February, Pat Harding taking position wide right to allow Jay Lovett to cover the suspended Neil Jenkins.



Boro came straight out of the blocks; following on from the Woking away win; and Atkin nodded home an Alan Marriott blocked effort for 1-0 on 6 minutes. Did the Priory Lane crowd expect another 'goal fest' ? Their side certainly did their best; outplaying a dogged but very ordinary 'Stags' side; Smith and harding pulling saves from Marriott whilst the side dominated. However Mansfield stuck to their guns; made a tactical substitution; and after 5 minutes of territory and possession grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half time; skipper Jonathan D'Laryea heading home a wonderful
right-wing cross for the sucker punch.

With the fierce eat wind on their backs the visitors had a far stronger 2nd 45. The lively Aaron O'Connor fired over on 51 minutes and Matt Somner drew a low 1 handed save from Lee Hook on the hour. The Boro management team replaced harding with Simon Wormull and 'The Sports' began to take command once again. But again the visitors scored against the run of play when a left-wing free-kick was headed home, unchallenged, by Scott Garner.



With just over 12 minutes remaining Boro re-doubled their efforts to protect their recent run of results. Indeed the side created 3 fabulous chances to draw level (and even win ?) in the closing minutes. Ben Austin headed over, the side watched a Wormull cross strike the far post, and nathan Crabb drew a shot wide when through on 'The Stags' keeper. It was all for naught and Mansfield hung on.



In the post match press conference it was pointed out that the dressing room atmosphere of disappointment at the result indicates not only the determination of the side to keep winning games but also how far the club has come. The players knew they could have won the game. However dejection at the result is quickly cast aside and thoughts turn quickly to the next game; 'one game at a time'.

Words - Lee Peskett
Pictures Lee Smith