Andi Bell confident Mansfield Town Ladies will become 'a force to be reckoned with' this season

Mansfield Town Ladies will look to keep their perfect start to the league season running this weekend against Newport Pagnell.

Stags have made no bones about targeting promotion from the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League this season, and they’re off to a flying start in their mission.

Action from the Women’s FA Cup, Round 2 match against Ossett Utd Ladies FC at the One Call Stadium, 20 Sept 2026, Photo credit Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.media

placeholder image — Action from the Women’s FA Cup, Round 2 match against Ossett Utd Ladies FC at the One Call Stadium, 20 Sept 2026, Photo credit Chris & Jeanette Holloway / The Bigger Picture.media

After three wins from three, Mansfield sit top of the table with maximum points and not a single goal against them so far.

It’s been a solid start to the season overall but they were recently knocked out of the East Midlands Regional League Cup by Grimsby Town, which ended their title-defending campaign.

In their first defeat of the season, Stags lost 2-1, and while Andi Bell highlighted the weak points in her side’s performance, she admitted she was pleased the loss came in the Cup, rather than the league.

The boss stressed after the match that her side will learn from their defeat to Grimsby, who they will meet again in the league later this season. However, she also isn’t overly concerned by the defeat.

“If we weren’t creating chances or having possession in the attacking third, it would be a lot more worrying,” Bell told club media. “It’s about getting those decisions right but they are the hardest decisions to make. You only have a short space of time to make a decision. I think Grimsby defended well, they put their bodies on the line, so fair play to them.

“If we weren’t creating stuff, I’d be more concerned but we will get that decision-making right and when we do, we will be a force to be reckoned with.

“Sooner or later, you’re going to lose a game and I would rather it’s this one than one in the league.”

Stags are back in league action this weekend when they face Newport Pagnell away from home on Sunday at 2pm.

Their upcoming opponents are currently their closest competitors in the EMWRFL. Newport Pagnell sit just one point behind Mansfield but have played a game more. They also are yet to lose a match, so it will certainly be a battle of who blinks first between these two early promotion candidates.