Stags Leave It Late For Victory

Mansfield Town’s chaotic start to the EFL League One season continued on Saturday afternoon with come-from-behind, 2-1 success at home to visiting Rotherham United.

The victory, courtesy of a last-minute winner from substitute Dominic Dwyer, sees them in twelfth place, level with Bolton Wanderers on fourteen points.

Also sitting in twelfth place and on fourteen points, but in EFL League Two, are Notts County, they slipping down the table when losing by the same scoreline, away to Crewe Alexandra, and are one of five sides stuck in that mid-table slot.

The Stags, they fell behind to a seventh minute penalty after defender Frazer Blake-Tracey was adjudged to have handled a close-range effort from Jordan Hugill in the box, Hugill stepping up and sending home shot-stopper Liam Roberts the wrong way from the resultant kick.

Visiting Rotherham had chances to extend their lead in the first half, the best effort coming with less than ten to go when a free-kick from Josh Benson clattered Roberts’ crossbar, the Stags going in with a goal deficit at the half-way mark.

It would be just after the hour when the equaliser arrived, a quick throw-in from Rhys Oates sent Tyler Roberts free on the left and finished with a beautiful, low shot past visiting ‘keeper, Cameron Dawson

Stags boss, Nigel Clough, made a number of changes in the closing half hour, the key alteration coming as the game headed towards stoppage time, replacing Kevin Knoyle with American striker, Dom Dwyer, for a final push.

It worked, emphatically, as, with his first touch, and following an Aaron Lewis free-kick, he headed what proved the winner past Dawson, much to the delight to the better part of the home crowd.

“It was a bit of a slog at times but I thought we deserved it over the course of the game, “Clough told BBC Nottingham after the victory.

“It was a big setback going behind after what, six or seven minutes with a penalty, and we didn’t get the rub of the green in the first half despite I thought we probably played better in the first half in some ways….

As for those late changes, including brining on Dwyer, Clough added: “We only had one more opportunity and you’re thinking you’ve got both fullbacks with cramp…..

“But it was good get to Max on, obviously Dom on, and young Taylor Anderson, and Aaron Lewis’ free-kick is magnificent, and there’s nobody better to be in six-yard box.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Liam Roberts, Kyle Knoyle (Dominic Dwyer, 89), Deji Oshilaja, Frazer Blake-Tracey, Stephen McLaughlin (capt; Kyle McAdam, 89), Jamie McDonnell, Aaron Lewis,

Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Max Dickov, 80), Tyler Roberts (George Maris, 66), Rhys Oates (Taylor Anderson, 90), Will Evans

Meanwhile, in League Two, County slipped to a second defeat in three, and dropped to twelfth in the table, when away to Crewe.

The Magpies conceded inside the opening ten minutes when Mickey Demetriou headed home a free-kick, but Nick Tsaroulla put home a rebounded effort, from a corner, in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Like the game in Mansfield, this was looking like it was heading for a draw but the hosts grabbed the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Scott Robertson fouled Jack Leankester in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot, Josh March stepping up to fire home.

County’s defeat, as mentioned sees them slip down the table and are now enmeshed with Oldham Athletic, Bromley, Barnet, and Harrogate Town on fourteen points, in mid-table.

Next up for both sides, League One Mansfield travel to sixth bottom (nineteenth place) Reading, whilst League Two Notts County host thirteenth place Oldham Athletic, this coming Saturday (4 October) afternoon.