Mansfield Town 2-2 Grimsby Town (EFL League Two) 20.03.21

Mansfield Town twice let a lead slip against bottom of the table Grimsby to draw 2-2 at the One Call Stadium this afternoon.

A strong start for the home side saw Mansfield press their opponents from the off before taking the lead on twenty minutes when George Maris fired home a first-time strike to give Nigel Clough’s men the early edge. The Stags continuing to push for more with McLaughlin heading over six minutes later before a stoppage in play lead to some lengthy treatment for Jason Law.

That stoppage flattened out the flow of the game with both sides content to playing out the half without further opportunity, Mansfield deservedly in the lead at half time thanks to a stunner by George.

The Mariners came out from the break in search of a leveller and got their reward when Lenell John-Lewis headed home from a corner on 63 but the scores weren’t level for long as five minutes later Law put the Stags back in the lead curling home after Grimsby failed to clear.

As time ran down and as Mansfield looked like taking all three points, the away side had one last chance in the 91^st minute as substitute George Williams stepped up from a free kick on the edge of the area and the former Fulham youngster smashed home to his side a fourth successive draw in the league.

Not a great end to proceedings which looked for long spells like Mansfield would win, with Manager Nigel Clough stating after “We’re disappointed with the result after having led twice in the game. Two set plays we’ve conceded from.

“We had to scrap and battle, and when you’re playing the team where they are, that’s the way it was going to be.

“Generally we dealt with the majority of things, but the lad has hit a brilliant free-kick and they’ve had a free header from a corner.

“When you get in the lead twice against bottom of the league, you expect to win the game.

The Stags next take on Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night at home, the promotion chasers lost to Cambridge today and will be looking to get back on track in the title race, whilst hoping it won’t be double defeat too, having already lost to Mansfield Town in the league this season.

Mansfield Town: Stone, Gordon, Rawson, Perch, Benning, Maris (Sweeney 80), Charsley, Law (Ward 80), McLaughlin (Quinn 74), Bowery, Reid (Sarkic 74 (Wright 88)).

Grimsby Town: McKeown, Hendrie, Waterfall, Hewitt, Clifton, Lamy (Williams 46), Matete (Adams 82), Coke (Spokes 46), Jackson (Green 70), John-Lewis, Payne.

Venue: Field Mill

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Stephen McLaughlin in action for the Stags.