Late FA Vase winner was highlight of season for AFC Mansfield manager

He cites the 120th-minute extra-time winner over Hanley Town in the FA Vase, a moment created by top-scorer Ross Duggan, as his most memorable memory s he looked back on the campaign before coronavirus forced its postponement..

Duggan a former Maltby Main talisman, now has an incredible 34 goals to his name and the manager said he never doubted the frontman’s ability to score in the dozens.

“He was the first person we wanted to get in, Chatfield said as he reflected on a busy past eight months or so.

“He’s one of the best finishers around, both in this league and above.

“I felt all he needed was the confidence and a bit of tactical understanding to get him scoring goals for fun, which is what he’s doing.”

As the end of his first year in charge at AFC Mansfield moves closer, Chatfield said he is excited for some of the club’s plans for next season and beyond.

“I’m hoping we can turn AFC back into a club and not just a first team,” he enthused.

“We have plans in place which I’m really excited about for next season and hopefully will be announced shortly.

“Ultimately we want to be fighting for the top spot in the Northern Counties East League and that’s what the long-term project is.”

When the action was called to a halt by the Covoid-19 virus, the Bulls sat 16th in the Premier Division with 28 points from 26 games.