Reasons for optimism after Bulls recovery

The Bulls enjoyed several memorable cup ties before turning their league campaign for the better at the turn of the year – but the COVID-19 pandemic brought the NCEL season to a gutting conclusion.

Bolsover boss Matt Chatfield arrived last summer alongside assistant John Stancliffe and former Chesterfield striker Andy Morris, carrying out almost a complete overhaul of the AFC squad relegated from the Northern Premier League.

The Bulls thrashed Sleaford Town 7-0 in the FA Cup whilst earning two wins from their first three NCEL Premier Division outings, Ross Duggan incredibly scoring 11 in that time.

Naturally, Chatfield’s youthful squad went through almost constant change, and their lack of experience together showed as league results began to turn sour.

A winless run worryingly stretched to four months, but the burden of such a miserable streak was relieved by impressive cup form.

Reaching the first qualifying round of the FA Cup before being beaten by higher-league Barwell, it was the Vase in which Mansfield shone, edging past Graham St. Prims and local rivals Rainworth before Duggan’s 120th minute winner against Hanley Town set up a second round clash with Long Buckby.

The Bulls overpowered their United Counties League opponents with a 3-1 win, but Notts rivals Newark Flowserve would be the deserved victors in the third round.

Boosted by the capture of defender Matt Wilson and midfielder Morgan James, a miraculous January saw Mansfield conquer promotion-chasers Staveley and Hemsworth and mid-table Garforth, with a memorable Notts Senior Cup encounter with Notts County wedged in between.

By February, AFC had doubled the points they tallied in the entire first half of the season, but their rise was stopped dead in its tracks by the coronavirus outbreak.

However, with a talented young squad, a 34-goal man in Duggan and further plans in place, Chatfield may feel that AFC’s three-year plan to return to step four football remains firmly on course.