There was an entertaining start to the new EFL League One season for both Mansfield Town, and newcomers Notts County, on Saturday afternoon, with both gaining something from their respective, home openers.

Nigel Clough’s Mansfield Town picked up a 2-1 win at home to Doncaster Rovers and gave debuts to starters Liam Thompson and Michael Smith, and Owen Dodgson from the bench, meanwhile, Clough’s County counterpart, Martin Paterson and his Notts County side drew 1-1 with visitors Leicester City, and handed debuts to nine, new players, in starters James Gibbons, Jack Evans, Dean Campbell, Darius Lispiuc, Ollie Cooper, Callum Roberts, and Luka Smyth as well as substitutes Hindolo Mustapha and Emile Acquah.

At the One Call Stadium, both the Stags, and visiting Rovers, created chances in the opening quarter of the contest, with Alfie May among those proving troublesome for the hosts, with Jon Russell and Louis Reed affording early hope for the Stags.

Pressure paid off for Clough’s charges when, in the 26th minute, a cut-back from Lucas Akins is swept home past Tommy Simkin in the visiting goal by Rhys Oates for the Stags’ first goal of the new season.

Simkin was called into action shortly after the opener, preventing the Stags from doubling their lead when saving a headed effort from Russell, whilst May fired wide at the other end, the half closing with Reed putting wide an effort of his own, the Stags going in with a lone-goal, interval lead.

The equaliser arrived early in the second half when Robbie Gotts slipped the ball through the heart of the home defence, and Jack Senior latched onto it to fire low past Liam Roberts in the home goal.

Both sides continued to create chances, with each searching a likely winner, Brandon Hanlan putting wide from eight yards out after good work from Jamie Sterry’s low cross, whilst debutant Michael Smith, and goalscorer Rhys Oates both came close for the hosts, the latter with an overhead-kick.

The winner arrived with a little over fifteen minutes remaining, straight from the training ground; a free-kick was awarded following a foul on Akins, Hendry, on for Russell ten minutes earlier, rolled the ball to Reed, whose first-time effort found Simkin’s bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The Stags looked likeliest to add further goals to their opening tally but settled for the two despite late chances for Elliot Hewitt, George Maris, and Lucas Akins, Clough’s side claiming an opening day, 2-1 home win.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Liam Roberts, Deji Oshilaja, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Ryan Sweeney (capt), Louis Reed (Elliot Hewitt, 91), Lucas Akins, Jon Russell (Regan Hendry, 64), Liam Thompson, Stephen McLaughlin (Owen Dodgson, 64), Rhys Oates (George Maris, 90), Michael Smith (Nathan Moriah-Walsh, 90)

Over at Meadow Lane, and the opening day, lunch-time kick-off live on Sky Sports, Notts County were involved in a 1-1 draw with former Premier League champions, Leicester City.

A new-look County side held their relegated visitors to a goalless first half, one which got quite bubbly as it wore on; home debutant Ollie Cooper hit the post inside the opening ten minutes following a slip by the visiting ‘keeper.

Meanwhile, visiting City continued to threaten, Sammy Braybrooke curling just wide of James Belshaw’s goal ten minutes before the break, and, minutes before half-time tempers flared following a bookable challenge from James Gibbons.

County continued to own possession early in the second half but failed to make it count, punished just after the hour mark when a move across the County box found its way to Jayden Joseph, and he finished with a lovely effort from sixteen yards out, with a low, true effort.

The hosts finally found the back of the net as the game moved into the final, ten minutes, the ball being won in the attacking third, played through for Emile Acquah to head goalwards and, although that struck the upright, the rebound fell kindly for Conor Grant, who took a touch to control the ball before slotting home a deserved equaliser.

NOTTS COUNTY – James Belshaw, Jacob Bedeau (capt), Lucas Ness, James Gibbons, Jack Evans (Conor Grant, 67), Dean Campbell (Scott Robertson, 83), Darius Lipsiuc, Nick Tsaroulla, Ollie Cooper, Callum Roberts (Hindolo Mustapha, 67), Luka Smyth (Emile Acquah, 67)

Next up in the league for the Nottinghamshire pairing, Clough’s Mansfield are on the road at Peterborough United, who were beaten 2-0 at Bradford City on the opening day, whilst Paterson’s County travel to a Luton Town side who edged a seven-goal thriller, 4-3, away to Reading.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc opening day celebrations during Mansfield’s win.