Dean Foulkes writes exclusively for www.mansfieldtown.net from Stonebridge Road, Northfleet
Magnificent Mansfield Town finally delivered the ultimate professional away performance to smash away the home side with a solid gutsy display laced with passion and quality football.
It was exactly the type of display we have been craving the Stags to deliver consistently at places like Ebbsfleet ever since we crash landed down here in the Blue Square Premier.
Enter your chosen vehicle, drive South for approximately three hours and stop before you get to France!
Within the bars in and around the ground those of an Amber persuasion held genuine belief rather than hope that following the midweek point at Luton we could notch a victory at The Fleet. Laugh of the day was provided by the sign of the season so far spotted within the football ground itself which proudly displayed the words "No Ball Games!"
Our very first Non League game took place at this Stadium a few years ago now and what an eye opener it was at the time. To be perfectly honest I did not miss this trip last year yet all credit to The Fleet for winning promotion back to the BSP. To be fair the place looked like it had received a much needed lick of paint and looked cared for on this occasion. I did hear somebody compare it to a spruced up tip!
Old and traditional, the ground offers both seats and open terrace options, with posts blocking the view from the seats. Goal netting was made up of rather fabulous dapper red and white cubes.
Never before have I been offered such awesome jacket potatoes for sale within a football ground. Add butter and cheese and the dish tasted so fabulous I nipped back at half time for another sample! Toilet facilities were available with or without a roof!
The Fleet Life production in my opinion is not one of the division's best as regards design or reading content, although it did contain a truly stunning article written by a Stags fan named Meet The Enemy! Priced at £2.50 for 40 pages, with approximately half of the pages dedicated to adverts
The fixture was designated an unsegregated game, meaning both home and away fans were free to openly roam at will around the ground, mingling and mixing together. Refreshing to see not a hint of a problem and friendly banter was the order of the day, although I was told within the club bar it was considerably quicker to get served with a red scarf on than an amber one!
Great to see the Stags roar out of the traps in traditional Amber and attack the opposition from the off. A typical Green finish and a belter from distance from the classy Roberts had us happy early doors and dreaming of the play offs once more! It was brilliantly refreshing to watch us play without shackles and spraying the ball about with confidence. The third goal really popped the icing on the cake and was rammed home delightfully right in front of us travelling Stags. Time to party!
Three goal wins away from home do not grow on trees so when they happen they need to be savoured. It was terrific for the travelling Stags to witness us win so well such a distance from home. It was also terrific to see us attack freely with skill and pace and play without fear. It was brilliant to see us not playing deeper and deeper after we take the lead. Great to see the other team worry about us.
This was a seriously impressive win that hopefully will give the whole Stags family the confidence to launch that string of straight wins that will charge us into that cherished play off zone. Victories at places like Ebbsfleet, Barrow and Wrexham tell us we are absolutely capable and when can you remember a season where we head into February having only lost five league games so far? For me Roberts has made a huge impact, is clearly a class act and is inspiring us around him. We are growing as a team, momentum is gathering and the excitement is building.
Could 2012 yet be the year we really can scream out to the world "Mansfield Are Back?"
Alfreton away anyone?
|
CATEGORY |
THE RATING |
| Journey |
10 |
| Stadium |
6 |
| Programme |
6 |
| Match |
9 |
| Overall day out |
9 |
| Round Trip Distance In Miles Travelled From Field Mill Season 2011-2012 |
3727 |
| Stags Goals Witnessed |
20 |
| Points won |
23 |
