The mixed fortunes of recent weeks continued for Nigel Clough’s Mansfield Town, and Martin Paterson’s Notts County, in their respective, EFL League One endeavours.

Much like the previous week, the Stags registered a draw, this 2-2 away to Burton Albion, whilst the Magpies were downed 2-0, on the road at Reading.

At the Pirelli Stadium, hosting Burton raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening half hour, Stags defender, Deji Oshilaj, putting past his own ‘keeper after sixteen minutes, with Jack Armer doubling the home advantage ten minutes later.

The opening goal when a hopeful ball from Charlie Webster connected with former Albion defender, Oshilaja, and past Liam Roberts into the back of the net; the lead was doubled just before the half hour as former Stags loanee, Caylan Vickers, found space to send a lopping ball towards the back post, and Armer was on-hand to head through Roberts’ legs from close-range.

Michael Smith reduced the deficit five minutes before the break however, getting on the end of a ball from the right by Nathan Moriah-Welsh and poking past Corey Addai in the home goal, the Stags going in at the break, 2-1 behind.

Changes were ring throughout the opening fifteen minutes of the second period, Stags boss Nigel Clough bringing on Kyle Knoyle, Rhys Oates, Lucas Akins, and Luke Bolton, as they searched for an equaliser.

That eventually arrived with twenty minutes left on the clock, Stephen McLaughlin’s cross form the left found the marauding Akins, who powered a left-footed effort beyond Addai to level proceedings.

As he’d done early in the first half, Stags striker, David McGoldrick saw a goal chalked off for offside in the closing stages of the second, as the visitors probed for what would have been a winner, that didn’t materialise, the two sides settling for a point.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Liam Roberts, Elliott Hewitt (Kyle Knoyle, 46), Deji Oshilaja, Ryan Sweeney (capt), Louis Reed, Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Lucas Akins, 62), Liam Thompson (Rhys Oates, 53), Regan Hendry, Stephen McLaughlin (Frazer Blake-Tracy, 75), Michael Smith (Luke Bolton, 62), David McGodlrick

Reading meanwhile, at their Select Car Leasing Stadium, claimed a third successive home win when seeing off visiting Notts County 2-0, both goals coming in the second half from Jack Marriott.

A Haydon Roberts cross early in the second was met by the diving head of Marriott for the opener, then, as the game moved into the final twenty, Kyreece Lisbie chipped the ball through for Marriott to again head home, this time at the far post.

NOTTS COUNTY – James Belshaw, James Gibbons, Lucas Ness, Jacob Bedeau (capt), Nick Tsaroulla, Rory Finneran, Jack Evans (Matthew Palmer, 59), Darius Lipsiuc (Rosaire Longelo, 59), Hindolo Mustapha (Conor Grant, 59), Ollie Cooper (Callum Roberts, 76), Daniel Kanu (Luka Smyth, 59)

With the international break causing havoc now with upcoming fixtures, Mansfield, who sit seventeenth in League One, travelling to bottom of the table Wigan Athletic (Saturday 3 October), whilst Notts County don’t play again until the following week, they hosting sixth placed Oxford United in the lunchtime kick-off (10^th October).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc a hard earned point for Stags who come from two behind.