After a nine-year wait, we finally returned to FA Cup action as we travelled to the Forest Town Arena to face AFC Mansfield in the Extra Preliminary Round. We went into the tie with confidence following the previous weekend’s victory away at Keighley Town, with Ryan Hindley naming an unchanged starting XI for the trip to face the Bulls.

The hosts made their intentions clear from the opening minute, with Jacob Carter on the receiving end of a heavy challenge early on, although the referee opted to keep his cards in his pocket. AFC Mansfield settled into the game quickest and enjoyed the majority of possession during the opening 15 minutes, forcing us to stay patient as we looked to find our rhythm.

Once we did settle, however, the momentum of the first half began to shift. We grew stronger as the half went on and created several excellent opportunities to take the lead. Oliver Wilson and Alexander Duhameau both found themselves in promising positions, while captain Conner Williamson came agonisingly close when his powerful leaping header was kept out by the Mansfield goalkeeper.

We were also causing plenty of problems from set pieces, delivering a series of dangerous corners into the Bulls’ penalty area, but somehow none could be turned home. By the closing stages of the half, we were firmly on top and probably didn’t want to hear the half-time whistle. The only thing missing from an impressive spell was the goal our pressure deserved. Freddie Trueman was another standout performer during the opening 45 minutes, producing an excellent defensive display and giving former Badger Charlie Fox very little room to operate.

Much like the beginning of the match, Mansfield started the second half on the front foot and immediately put us under pressure. We were forced into some important defensive work, with Williamson and Dom Hart producing several strong interventions to keep the hosts at bay. Eventually, though, the breakthrough arrived.

A quickly taken free-kick from us was intercepted and Mansfield immediately broke forward with a two-on-one advantage. We attempted to recover, but a fortunate deflection fell kindly for the hosts before the ball eventually found its way into the back of the net. It was a frustrating way to fall behind after we had enjoyed so much of the better play during the first half.

With less than half an hour remaining, we needed a response. The management team rolled the dice from the bench as we pushed more bodies forward in search of an equaliser, but Mansfield defended their advantage well and did everything they could to take the momentum out of the contest as the clock continued to run down. We kept pushing. One of our best late chances arrived in the 80th minute when Carter produced an excellent turn to work his way into the penalty area, but his effort flew over the crossbar.

Despite throwing everything forward during the closing stages, the equaliser would not arrive. A disappointing afternoon brought our first FA Cup campaign in nine years to an earlier end than we would have wanted.

There were certainly positives to take from the performance, particularly the way we took control of the first half and created enough opportunities to have gone into the interval ahead, but ultimately those missed chances proved costly.

We wish AFC Mansfield all the best in the next round. Our attention now turns firmly back to league action, where we’ll be determined to put things right and respond in the best possible way. As always, a huge thank you to every Badger who made the trip and backed the lads from the stands. Your away support never goes unnoticed.

We go again.

Retford United FC Limited Company: 11388953
Club Registered Number: OC348147 | Owner: Nicholas Springthorpe