Mansfield Town left-back Malvind Benning believes his most recent sensational strike is in his nature as he helped fire the Stags to a 3-0 win over Newport County AFC this afternoon.
The defender met Jack Thomasâ fine cross with a ferocious volley from well outside the area that left County âkeeper Joe Day helpless.
Benning felt that he knew if he hit it well enough it would find the back of the net similarly to his strike at Dagenham & Redbridge last week.
âThese last two volleys were just instinct,â he said.Â
âI said before it was just instinct when it comes, I want to go for it and have a crack and theyâve gone in which Iâm thankful.â
âI found myself up there and I saw Thommo (Jack Thomas) look at me and then look at the box and I thought âplease Thommo just cross it to meâ.
âHe crossed it and I had no doubts about taking a touch; I heard people tell me to take a touch but I thought âwhy not just have a crack and see what happensâ and thankfully it went in.â
The two sides went in to the interval goalless despite the hosts having the lionâs share of the possession, but second-half strikes from Craig Westcarr, Benning and Adi Yussuf wrapped up the points for the Nottinghamshire club.
Despite eventually running out comfortable winners, Benning stated that manager Adam Murrayâs words of encouragement at half-time helped push them over the line as they controlled the game from the outset.
Benning said: âI thought we dominated first half and it was a shame we couldnât get a goal, but we came in and the gaffer was frustrated with us to be fair.Â
âHe told us we need to switch the play better, which we did in the second half, and finally broke them down, but after that first goal we needed to kick on and get the second one, which we did, and kill the game off.
Looking towards the future, the 21-year-oldâs third strike of the season equalled his total tally during his time at former club Walsall, but the defender insists goals arenât his first priority this campaign.
Benning continued: âMy main aim is to keep as many clean-sheets as I am a defender but goals are a bonus and hopefully I can get a couple more and see what happens.
âMy targets personally are to just be consistent and play as many games [as I can]. Iâve been in and out of teams at Walsall so I havenât really ever had a run of games but obviously itâs up to me to keep performing and keep my place in the team.â
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