AFC Mansfield's title hopes all but over after Hemsworth defeat

AFC Mansfield's title hopes took a massive dent after they were beaten 1-0 by leaders Hemsworth MW.

The defeat leaves The Bulls 11 points off top spot and having played a game more.

With both sides giving each other a healthy respect it wasn’t until the 13th minute when the first shot on goal was registered as Jason White saved well from Jason Yates.

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A minute later Craig Mitchell chested the ball down to set up a Danny Williams’ 25 yard effort that narrowly cleared the bar.

Harry Viggars then looped a header over the bar as the game started to spring to life.

The best chance so far fell on 25 minutes when a superb delivery from Ryan Williams was met by the head of Jake Park.

Somehow Chris Sneath in the visitor’s goal got a hand to the ball to turn it around the post for a corner.

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From the corner Grant Allott had his header turned around the post by an outstretched leg of a defender.

Danny Critchlow fired high and wide at the other end, but with both teams cancelling each other out the game reached the halfway stage goalless.

Hemsworth were close 10 minutes into the restart when a lofted effort from 35 yards, after White had raced out of his box only to half clear the danger, hit the roof of the net.

The visitors were beginning to get a grip of the game and, on 70 minutes, White saved twice from close range with the third effort flying over the bar from Danny Critchlow as the home side struggled to clear their lines.

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The winning goal came 10 minutes from the end when White spilt a cross and, despite Luke Jeffs clearing off the line, the referee adjudged it had crossed the goalline and signalled to the centre spot.

Manager Rudy Funk threw on two strikers for the final minutes, but it was Hemsworth who were to have the final chance with Critchlow firing wide after wriggling clear of two defenders.

nAFC Mansfield: White, Paling, Jeffs, Allott (Swindells 80), Timons (C), Naylor (Patterson 63), Williams R (O’Malley 80), Buxton, Park, Mitchell, Ghaichem. Subs not used: Rick & Williams D.

Hemsworth: Snaith, Wilson, Clark, Swift, Viggars, Danville, Connolly (Blair ), Yates (C), Law, Critchlow, Kelsey (Jones ). Subs not used: Tonks & Hayward

Referee: David Jones (Lincs)

Assistants: Wayne Escreet (Lincs) and Peter Mills (Notts).

Attendance: 132.

Man of the Match: Jake Park.

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