VIDEO: Winning start for new Bulls boss

“It was good to get a winning start in what was a tough game,” said Short, who was announced as the new boss at the end of last week.

“After we scored, to be honest I don’t think we were in any danger and we maybe got a bit complacent at times and conceded a late goal.

“But, apart from that, it was a job well done.”

The Bulls welcomed back Joe Naylor, Darren Bettison and Kyle Ludlow who were all missing from the midweek defeat at Eccleshill. Starting on the bench was new signing Nathan Hollingworth.

Kicking up the slope, it wasn’t until the 15th minute that the visitors had a chance on goal, Dean Rick forcing a save out of Daniel Graves.

A minute later and Graves was down again, this time denying Chris Timons from the edge of the box.

AFC Mansfield made the breakthrough on 25 minutes a trademark run from Carl Haslam taking him past three players down the left flank and an inch-perfect low cross gave Rick the simplest of finishes to put the Bulls in front.

The home side were using a physical approach to their tackling and this earned them a couple of yellow cards as they fought to hold the visitors back.

In a carbon copy move of the first goal, Rick should have made it 2-0 but sliced his effort wide of the mark on the half-hour.

The game remained 1-0 going into the break, but there was a sense of anticipation from the AFC fans that going down the slope would reap rewards for the Bulls.

This was to be the case as with only three minutes of the second half gone Rick made it 2-0.

Racing onto a Joe Naylor through ball, the striker beat both the Holbrook keeper Graves and captain Niall Mather to the ball and ended up stroking the ball into an empty net from 12 yards.

Paul Fisher had a chance to get Holbrook back into the game on 51 minutes, but with the goal at his mercy swung a foot and completely missed Chilaka’s cross from the left.

Rick went down in the box under Mather’s challenge on 62 minutes with the assistant’s flag going up straight away to signal a spot kick.

Rick picked himself up and drove the ball past Graves to complete his hat-trick.

A minute later and man of the match Haslam saw his 15 yard effort superbly saved by Graves.

The home side did pull one back on 67 minutes, Isaac Minott getting the final touch in a goalmouth scramble.

A long throw from Ashley Kitchen was flicked on by Naylor to Haslam, whose header was saved point blank by Graves to deny the wide man.

But Haslam was determined to have his goal and it duly came on 80 minutes.

Deciding to go it alone, Haslam picked the ball up in his own half and went on a run that took him past four players.

When he reached the penalty box he proceeded to round keeper Graves and then calmly slide the ball home from a tight angle 12 yards out – a truly wonderful goal and worthy of winning any game of football.

There was still time for some late drama and when Minott went down in the box the referee pointed to the spot.

Minott stepped up and struck the ball high and to the keeper’s right, but Gavin Saxby was having none of it and flew through the air to turn the goalbound effort over the bar with one hand.