Cor! If Christmas is a time of year that’s ablaze with the roaring fire of festive cheer, hasn’t our Lewis Hamilton done his bit to douse the flames? If anyone caught the parlour folly that is BBC Mainstream Sports Personality Of The Year, our famed Billy Whizz made a silly reference from coming from the ‘slums’. It’s got everyone from Corey’s Mill Sainsbury’s to Broadwater Tesco in a right fluffery buff.
To be fair to the lad, we think we knew what he meant. And we get that he spends his summer going around in circles at 200mph for two-and-a-half hours every fortnight. It’s bound to jumble the word box up a little. So, we ain’t too fussed by it all. That, and we’re from Hertford anyway. But a peace offering and goodwill gesture, the gaffer has invited him to come down to the Lamex and watch us play. If Monaco’s looking a bit peaky, obvs…
Stevenage v Mansfield Town: The Lowdown
If the ‘Ham’ fancies it this weekend, he’ll be treated to the delights that unfold when Boro’ take on Mansfield Town. To the best of our knowledge and slack research, no-one that famous has come from there*. Joel Peat, lead guitarist in the band Lawson, anyone? So, Lewis will have the prestige of almost certainly being the most famous and probably richest person in attendance. Unless Ken Follett is coming too.
* Yes, fine. You can have Rebecca Adlington and Richard Bacon.
The Referee
P25 W5 D9 L11 F29 A35; last result: Stevenage 3-1 Exeter City, 28/04/2018
One of the best things about Christmas is catching up with old pals. If you can say the same about refs, we’re not sure. But we go back a fair way with this guy; Dean Whitestone first taking charge of one of our games in September 2001. On the face of it, our record when he’s been meddling in match affairs don’t look much cop. Yet, take heart oh young ones – the last two have both seen us win and score three times in the process.
The Opposition
P12 W5 D1 L6 F17 A16; last result: Stevenage 1-1 Mansfield Town, 10/04/2018
After coming up from the Conference in 2014, the shift in head-to-head fortunes has not gone our way. With just two wins from our eight encounters in the Football League, the Stags’ win count has overtaken ours; our last win being at their place in October 2016. Last time out indoors, meanwhile, honours were even between us for the first time ever. What impact will that momentous occasion have here? Absolutely none, probably.
The Form
Hells-jingle-bells! We aren’t half up against it if the Stags are true to their current form. Our guests might only be three points ahead of us in the table, but don’t be fooled much. We’re dealing with a side who are very hard to beat; only Exeter City have managed it this season. And that was at their place! On the road, Mansfield have yet to lose; two wins and eight draws is their record. Are we going to be the side to smash it?
They don’t find scoring on the road much trouble, finding the net in eight out their 10 matches so far. They are also a little handy at doing so early doors; six of their 29 goals coming in the first quarter of an hour. We like to leave it late, meanwhile; scoring a third of our goals in the final 15. More often than not indoors, we go into the break level; whether we score or not. So, it’s going to be a draw then. And there ain’t nowt we can do about it!
The form in the reds and greens of Christmas from kickoff.co.uk:
• MORE ABOUT ‘EM: Mansfield Town club profile
