Stags Celebrate In Derby Victory

Chesterfield 0-2 Mansfield Town (Carabao Cup Round One) 12.08.2025

A dozen miles separate the East Midlands pair of Chesterfield and Mansfield Town as the two sides faced off in the First Round of the Carabao League Cup on Tuesday night.

It’s a fixture that dates back to the early-1930s, and has, on the main, been pretty even in terms of results, with this, the first meeting between the two since April 2018, the Stags now unbeaten in their last four.

On Tuesday, at the SMH Group Stadium it would be Nigel Clough’s side who’d emerge victorious, reliant on goals from their ‘old guard’ in the 2-0 win which moved them into the second round.

It would be the visiting Stags who’d take an early lead, Rhys Oates and Dom Dwyer playing a one-two in the opening minutes before the former slotted the ball past Zach Hemming, in the home goal.

The hosts had chances in which to equalise, Armando Dobra pulling a save from Liam Roberts after sixteen minutes, whilst he and Chey Dunkley were denied either side of the half hour mark, Roberts proving immovable in the visiting goal.

Despite losing scorer, Oates, late in the first half, the Stags started the second in the ascendency, and quickly capitalised, doubling their advantage just before the hour mark.

Spireites defender, Dunkley, gave the ball away and Will Evans, on for Oates earlier in the contest, pounced to not only collect the loose ball, but shoot under Hemming for the games’ second goal.

A third was nearly added as the game headed towards the final fifteen minutes, Hemming though saving well from a well-placed, Aaron Lewis free-kick, from range, whilst Dylan Duffy would see his saved by Roberts at the other end with five left on the clock.

Following back-to-back, 2-1 defeats to start the season, this, a 2-0 win against their local rivals, is hoped to kick-start the season for Nigel Clough’s charges, they travelling to Exeter City next, on Saturday (16 August) lunchtime.

Meanwhile, the defeat for Chesterfield, it set a new, League Cup record, the Spireites having now suffered thirteen straight losses in the competition.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Liam Roberts, Jordan Bowery, Ryan Sweeney (capt; Regan Hendry, 77), Baily Cargill, Frazer Blake-Tracy (Stephen McLaughlin, 65), George Maris (Jamie McDonnell, 65), Aaron Lewis, Kyle McAdam, Nathan Morian-Welsh, Rhys Oates (Will Evans, 36), Dom Dwyer (Elliott Hewitt, 46)

Elsewhere in Tuesday’s League Cup action, Doncaster Rovers netted two in each half to win 4-0 at Middlesbrough, Bradford City scored twice in the opening four minutes to win 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers, whilst there was also a trio of 3-1 victories.

Charlton Athletic beat Stevenage, Grimsby Town saw off Shrewsbury, and Lincoln City won in Harrogate; there was also a five-goal thriller as Plymouth Argyle edged visiting Queens Park Rangers.

As for local competition, Derby County went through on penalties, winning 3-2 following a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, Notts County were beaten 1-0 away to Wigan Athletic, and the game between Tranmere Rovers and Burton Albion was postponed due to a local power outage.