AKEEL GOALS DECISIVE FOR THE GREENS
TOWN MOVE UP TO SEVENTH WITH WIN OVER MANSFIELD
AKEEL Francis made it three goals in two games on Saturday as Sleaford Town defeated AFC Mansfield 2-0 at The MKM Ground.
It extended the Greens’ recent spell of form into three games unbeaten in United Counties League Premier Division North, with Francis’ brace enough to see the team up into seventh spot and cut the gap to the play-off places down to eight points.
Player/Manager Tom Ward was full of praise for his match winner, as well as lauding his side for comfortably dodging a potential banana skin.
“They are one of those sides that fight for everything,” he said.
“They bring pressure because we were expected to beat them and I thought we dealt with that really well and made the game all about us.
“Akeel does a lot of the hard work that rarely gets the credit he deserves, but I’m really pleased for him as he’s such a big part of our group.”
It was the visitors who created the best of the early opportunities, and Kaylum Mitchell was the first to try his luck, forcing Liam Flitton down at his near post to tip aside his effort.
Mitchell was involved again a few moments later, this time crossing for Joe Meakin to sweep an effort inches wide.
It was on the back of this flurry of Bulls chances that the Greens found the opener and a well-worked effort it was too.
Tom Waumsley was the man to set
Ryan Lennon free from Ryan Flitton’s throw and it was the Greens’ forward man who crossed for Francis to smash home the opener at close range.
The Greens began the second half with intent and sensed an opportunity to kill off the contest early on.
Charlie Ward was first unlucky not to connect with Tristan Drummond’s corner before Francis made the most of a kind bounce to advance on goal and crash a lofted effort against the bar.
The Greens soon killed the game off as a contest and it was Francis again who bagged himself a brace for the day, springing the Bulls offside trap to round Harvey Woodward and slot the ball home into an empty net to put the Greens out of sight.
A flurry of substitutions interrupted the flow of the game somewhat and the match had crept into stoppage time before Greens debutant Kyle Simpson stung the palms of Woodward.
At the other end, the Bulls had a flurry of their own before the whistle, Flitton beating aside Dearle’s effort amongst a string of corners the only real concern for the Greens during stoppage time.
The Greens now turn their attentions to a huge Lincolnshire derby with Boston Town on Wednesday evening. Kick-off at The MKM Ground is at 7.45pm.