Swindon Town 1-0 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 23.11.19
Despite having some great chances to take something from the game Mansfield Town were beaten narrowly by top of the table Swindon Town 1-0 at the County Ground as the Stags slip down a place to 15th in League Two.
The hosts might have been one up after just eight minutes when Caddis floated the ball in over Logan in the Mansfield goal only for it to bounce off the woodwork.
Mansfield pressed for an opener and created a couple of good opportunities but on 23 minutes the home side took the lead when Doyle nipped in from close range.
That goal lifted the league leaders and Logan was called in to action flicking another Doyle effort onto the crossbar before the Stags had two chances in quick succession first Mellis denied by Benda before Maynard fired wide.
John Dempster’s side came out in the second half immediately searching for an equaliser and went close just a minute in when Hamilton’s cross was inches from being put in by Maynard.
On 52 Maynard smashed a post after finding space in the area to get his shot away before Cook went close seeing his close range effort saved by Benda in the Swindon goal.
Maynard fired wide on the hour before Yates fired over for the home side but despite some late Stags pressure the Swindon defence was more than up to the challenge and eventually came through a tough test imposed by the Nottinghamshire team who can be proud in their efforts if a little frustrated with the result.
After the game Mansfield’s Manager John Dempster suggested his side did enough to win the game saying “I thought the players gave everything. We threw everything at Swindon. We had some good opportunities.”
“We started to open them up and you could see our confidence lift. It’s another reason why we’re very disappointed not to score, but the effort from the players can’t be questioned.”
“When you look at the chances we created and the way we played, it’s just a shame that we couldn’t capitalise on the possession we had and the opportunities we created. You can’t question the players’ efforts, but we just couldn’t get that goal.”
Swindon Town: Benda, Caddis, Baudry, Fryers, Hunt, Grant, Lyden (Rose 45), Woolery (Iandolo 90), Doughty (Broadbent 63), Yates, Doyle.
Mansfield Town: Logan, Preston, Pearce, Sweeney, Gordon (Khan 82), Shaughnessy (Sterling-James 77), Mellis (Knowles 90), Smith, Hamilton, Maynard, Cook.
Venue: County Ground (6,741)
*Main image @mansfieldtownfc The Stags go close against Swindon in today’s match.
