Harrogate Town 1-0 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 23.02.21

What a difference a week makes, as just seven days ago the Stags unbeaten in eight in League Two, took on Bolton Wanderers and with little over ten minutes left had a two-goal lead that was shortly, surely, going to see Nigel Clough’s side hit the 37 point mark…

Three goals later, three games later, Mansfield are still stuck on 34 points after a hat-trick of losses that has sapped the confidence out of the side since Bolton came back from the brink to remarkably win 3-2 last Wednesday.

Saturday was going to be tough at leaders Cambridge who in the end shown their class, but tonight, Mansfield would have fancied their chances against a side recently promoted and just two points ahead in the table, chances came and went, Harrogate winning to do a league double over their rivals and bridge the gap on the two to five points having played a game more.

Ollie Clarke was first to register a shot on target for Mansfield as former Notts County goalkeeper Belshaw cleared straight to him in the wind before recovering to save the effort from the Stags skipper on four minutes.

Charsley curled wide on 14 before Clarke tried his luck again on twenty to similar outcome after good work by Bowery.

The Mansfield midfielder then forced Belshaw into a good save from a free kick on 32 and a minute later Rawson flicked Law’s corner inches wide of the post.

A better side in the first half were the away team, Harrogate did finally test Stone who denied March with a curling effort shortly before half time.

All that good work before the break however was quickly done just a minute into the second half when Aaron Martin struck home sweetly from the edge of the area to give Simon Weaver’s side the lead.

And that’s how it stayed. Mansfield pushed but were unable to break down the door and in fact it was Harrogate who improved in the second half to again test Aidan Stone as Kerry shot from distance before Martin had the ball in the net to be pulled up for offside.

Late on Quinn fired a volley wide from another poor clearance from Belshaw, the goalkeeper lucky that it didn’t prove more costly, the Stags unlucky again after a decent first 45, but stumbling to defeat on a whimper as the stronger side to finish were certainly those wearing yellow… Unfortunately, this evening, Mansfield were in their change of blue.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Burrell, Smith, Hall, Francis (Jones 71), Power (Kerry 63), Thomson, Falkingham, McPake, March (Muldoon 76), Martin (Beck 76).

Mansfield Town: Stone, Perch, Rawson, Sweeney, McLaughlin (Benning 46), Charsley (Gordon 56), Maris (Sinclair 85), Clarke, Law (Quinn 74), Reid, Bowery.

Venue: Wetherby Road

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc action from the EnviroVent Stadium as Stags lose again.