Mansfield Town 0-3 Cheltenham Town (EFL League Two) 07.12.19

Mansfield Town were well beaten by Cheltenham Town in a disappointing day at Field Mill for the home side who drop down into 18^th place in League Two.

The Stags started well initially and pressed for an early goal with the lively CJ Hamilton causing Cheltenham problems. On 13 minutes Maynard was brought down by Raglan bearing down on goal but the Referee controversially waved play on despite annoyance from the home team and fans.

That spurred the away side into action and on 19 minutes Olejnik made a great save from Addai saving from close range before more controversy when Cook found the net for the Stags only to be pulled back for a foul.

A feisty opening saw tackles flying in with first Doyle-Hayes for the Robins then MacDonald for the Stags booked before Manager John Dempster went into the Referees notepad for complaining about some of the early decisions not going his way.

The Stags frustrations continued when the away team took the lead on 32 when a John Smith header found the net before more rough treatment this time on Maynard as Greaves chopped him down to earn another yellow.

On the edge of half time Maynard fired inches wide but it was the visitors going into the break happiest of the two teams with a lead.

That happiness was increased further for Cheltenham after just 52 minutes when William Boyle headed the second goal of the afternoon a real kick in the teeth for the Stags who’s frustrations eventually boiled over again when Maynard was fouled by Boyle with both earning bookings for their actions.

The Stags best opportunity perhaps came on 79 when a Mellis shot was blocked but deflated with much to do it was the Gloucestershire outfit that crowned off an emphatic day when Addai finished things off with a third.

Manager John Dempster disappointed with his side’s performance stated “There were a couple of times where we got into reasonable positions but in terms of shots on target, it didn’t happen enough.”

“We’ve been very weak in our own box – the second goal just can’t happen. We tried to be positive with our substitutions but they didn’t come off either.”

“It’s gut-wrenching. I think I have to take responsibility for the standards and spirit that needs to be drilled into the players.”

Dempster gave a damning assessment on his own performance stating “There has been heavy investment and it’s up to me to get the best out of them, and that hasn’t happened.

“I’m here to win football matches for this club and thus far, this season, we haven’t won enough games.

“I believe that we have a mountain to climb now, but we’re not dead. We need 17 wins from the remaining games. That’s the mountain we have to climb now – that’s how tough the challenge ahead is.

Mansfield Town: Olejnik, Benning (Sterling-James 74), Preston, Sweeney, Shaughnessy, Mellis, Bishop (Khan 62), MacDonald, Hamilton, Maynard, Cook (Rose 71).

Cheltenham Town: Flinders, Raglan, Boyle, Greaves, Long (Horton 90), Clements, Doyle-Hayes, Hussey, Broom, Addai, Smith.

Venue: Field Mill (3,715)

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc action from Field Mill with Jacob Mellis in possession.