RICH TEA NOT ON THE SCORESHEET AS FREELAND DUNK MANSFIELD

Freeland 8 - 1 Mansfield Road

As the clouds gathered in menacing fashion around The Simon Hole Memorial Ground, and the supporters filtered in, First Team Manager Matty Longford was giving his pre match press conference. He talked about how far his team had come, and how he hoped his Freeland warriors could give a good account of themselves in a match of all matches against Mansfield Road. Nothing less than a win was required to gain the second automatic promotion spot, and after a week of anticipation the shoot out was about to begin.

However, Longford, and the 150 strong Freeland faithful could not have predicted what they were about to see.

Mansfield knew a point would see them secure second place ahead of Freeland, and for the first ten minutes they pressed Freeland and had some good chances, with the forwards easily outpacing club carthorse Si Hole. Perkin had to be alert to make a decent save and soon after Freeland got into their stride and started to press and close down Mansfield, not giving them anytime on the ball.

"Ironik is a rocket"

From here on in it was all Freeland and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring though superstar DJ and 2Xclusive main man Jay Jay Ironik Harriott, the main man thundered a shot goal wards only for it to be superbly saved by the impressive Mansfield keeper, but Ironik is a rocket, and he was quickest to react and he swept home the rebound with ease.

Freeland doubled there lead soon after, veteran Darren MacNamara the scorer, striking a sweet volley from twenty yards out into the bottom corner. As MacNamara wheeled away to celebrate the linesman stood with his flag in the air, had he seen something that no one else had? It appeared to be the case, as he lowered his flag after a word with the referee and then was reminded of his mistake in no uncertain terms by Sir Richard Stanley. Freeland then had a scare when Mansfield broke on the counter and hit the post with keeper Perkin stranded.

" luckily for young Peter his brother, friend and captain marvel Simon Hole was on hand to defend him"

Almost immediately after that and Freeland found themselves three goals up thanks to striker Harriotts second of the half. Ironik raced away from the Mansfield defence and finished with aplomb, looping the ball over the oncoming keepers head from eighteen yards. It was no more than his angry performance deserved. Mansfield were now rattled, and it got worse for them when they lost a defender to a nasty gash on the head after an aerial battle with Rich Tea. Who incidentally did not seem to lose a header all game. Mansfields central midfielder was also substituted before the break as he tried to square up to Peter Sutcliffe look a like Stuart Hole, luckily for young Peter his brother, friend and captain marvel Simon Hole was on hand to defend him.

Freeland knew the game was now in the bag, as Mansfield were posing no threat at all, but this did not mean they took their foot off the gas as they roared there way through the second half. Freeland were dominating every area of the pitch, Maskell, Woodbridge and Hole were towers of strength in the air, and with Brooks, Hole and MacNamara all pulling the strings in midfield it was a formidable sight. Matty Wood and Neil Howe worked tirelessly down the flanks and Trigg and Harriott did not give the Mansfield defence one second on the ball.

There was yet another moment of magic from superstar Stuie Hole, as he scored his third goal in three games, slamming home a volley from twenty-five yards leaving the keeper with no chance as the ball whistled past him and into the roof of the net.

The only blot on the Freeland performance came soon after as Mansfield grabbed themselves a consolation goal when their striker was left unmarked in the box to head home from close range. Jamie Perkin, a ??10million signing from Freeland A in the summer, then came into his own, making three world class saves with different parts of his body.

"Simon Calley scored a goal equally as good as Holes earlier in the game"

Matty Longford then made some inspired substitutions, bringing on Glastonbury, PC Mason and Simon Calley. They were all in on the act as soon as they stepped onto the pitch, Mason rolled back the years as he swivelled in the box to fire home from close range, our favourite bobby has now scored a goal for all three Freeland teams this season to find himself on the right arm of the law from all the management team. Then Simon Calley scored a goal equally as good as Holes earlier in the game. He picked the ball up on the touchline, and proceeded to have a crack from fully thirty yards, the ball swerved inch perfectly into the bottom corner to send the Freeland fans into raptures.

Hole Jnr then notched his second of the game as the Mansfield defence dallied on the ball, Hole did not need to be asked twice and he nipped the ball off them, got out his dancing feet, and then shinned the ball home. Fittingly Man of the Match Gary Brooks sealed the win after a comedy of errors led to Freeland being given a free kick just inside the Mansfield box after a back pass went horribly wrong. The ball was rolled to Brooks and he sweetly curled the ball into the corner of the net for goal number eight.

As the final whistle blew Freeland were now guaranteed second place, and the celebrations could begin for Matty Longford and his Barmy Army. Congratulations boys!

**Dont forget that the Reserves are in action this Saturday as they look to clinch the title at BCS Bardwell, and the A Team bring the season to a close as they look to finish third as they entertain Witney Royals A at The Simon Hole Memorial Ground on the 7th May**