The First Team boss demanded a reaction following Saturday’s exit in the FA Vase as he made five changes. Louis Nicholson and Nyle Blake debuted, Jake Wright, Finnley Commons and Daniel Elliott also started. Aaron O’Connor, Marcus Marshall, Lavell White and Thomas Hodgkinson all dropped to the bench, Abdul Saad missed out with injury.

After a delayed start to the match Eastwood opened the scoring with ten minutes on the clock, Hawkridge played the ball forward of which Taylor and Rajter didn’t deal with leaving Nyle Blake free to lift the ball over the keeper and score his first goal for the club. Eastwood looked in control and Tyler Blake stung the palms of Turton as the Red Badgers went in search of a second.

The hosts drew level through Eastwood’s Achilles heal as an unmarked Charlie Taylor volleyed home at the far par from a Mansfield corner. It was an even contest until the break as the wind and rain began to worsen and both sides looked hopefully at the referee for the half time whistle.

HT AFC Mansfield 1-1 Eastwood CFC

During the half time break the floodlights went out and the second half was delayed by twenty minutes as one of the committee members went to the petrol station for diesel to refuel the generator.

21:10 the lights were back on and the teams were out. In the second half it looked like only one team was going to get the winner as both Blake brothers, Hawkridge and Commons had efforts saved. Substitutes Marshall and O’Connor added to the Eastwood threat but no one could find the winner.

With six minutes left Eastwood thought they had won it, a Morris-Wright throw was headed goalwards back Phil Watt only to see Josh Turton equal too it and make a fantastic save to tip it over the bar. Marcus Marshall had a chance to win it late on but his out stretched leg was just short of Blake’s cross.

FT AFC Mansfield 1-1 Eastwood CFC

A point on the road that could have been three. We climb to 15th in the table.

AFC Mansfield Lineup;

1. Josh Turton (c)
2. Eden Homer
3. Rhys Dolan
4. Liam Mays
5. Charlie Taylor (24)
6. Kacper Rajter
7. Ethan Weisztort (Sketchley 70)
8. James Matthews (Coupe 82)
9. Kaylum Mitchell
10. Jamie Goddard
11. Ryan Ingram

Subs
12. Kian Sketchley
14. Adam Bratley
15. Jack Clarke
16. Kieran Coupe
17. Jacob Hibbert

Eastwood CFC Lineup;

1. Sam Wilson
2. Elijah Morris-Wright
3. Louis Nicholson
4. Daniel Elliott (Hollis 46)
5. Phil Watt
6. Jake Wright (c)
7. Nyle Blake (10) (Marshall 86)
8. Toby Woodward
9. Tyler Blake
10. Terry Hawkridge (Hollis 67)
11. Finnley Commons

Subs
12. Jermain Hollis
14. Aaron O’Connor
15. Thomas Hodgkinson
16. Marcus Marshall
17. Lavell White

Man Of The Match: Nyle Blake