Football Season Review

It was another heartbreaking end to the season for Mansfield Town after they were beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Newport County. David Flitcroft won over Stags despite missing out on a play-off place last season as he built an exciting side which played attacking football. The season-long loan signing of striker Tyler Walker from Nottingham Forest was a huge factor whilst they could also boast the meanest defence in the division. They recovered from a slow start to challenge for automatic promotion and spent most of the second half of the season in the top three. They lost their last three league matches to miss out on the final day of the season and then lost by the tightest of margins as Walker saw his spot-kick saved to lose out to Newport County in a penalty shoot-out. It was particularly tough on Walker, who finished as leading goalscorer with 26 goals and was voted player of the season. Defender Krystian Pearce was an ever-present in the centre of defence, whilst CJ Hamilton also played every game, with the pair enjoying an outstanding season. Flitcroft was backed heavily again by owner John Radford and has subsequently been sacked after failing to deliver League One football. Academy manager John Dempster has been appointed as his successor and inherits one of the strongest squads in the division.

Player of the Season: Tyler Walker