Mansfield Town 1-1 Walsall (EFL League Two) 31.10.20
The Stags are becoming League Two draw masters after a sixth share of the spoils in ten games against Walsall today but this point, under a temporary Manager in Richard Cooper will be one pleasing for the side as they look to improve their situation after a tough start to the season which has led to the dismissal of Graham Coughlan.
Mansfield started the busier of the two sides as the home team flew out of the blocks in looking for an early lead as Maris fizzed the posts on 13 minutes but with Walsall looking dangerous on the break it was the Saddlers who forced the best moment of the early stages when Osadebe slipped in as Rawson fell and forced Stech into a fantastic save.
Nicky Maynard then tried his luck forcing a straight forward save from former Rainworth Miners Welfare loanee Liam Roberts in the Walsall goal, Roberts then saving from Charsley’s flick as the Stags tallied up their attempts total.
Those attempts resulted in a goal on 33 minutes when Maynard slid in to put the Stags in the lead which they took into the break but just four minutes after the restart Walsall equalised when Adebayo finished off.
The Stags replied with Maynard going close to his second with a curling effort just wide before McLaughlin’s cross forced Roberts into action ahead of the waiting striker Reid wanting to pounce.
Charsley again forced a save from the Walsall goalkeeper as Reid hit wide left footed after bringing down from Cook’s flick on and in the final minutes it was Walsall who went close to a winner when Stech again saved well this time from Kinsella.
There was still time for the away side to snatch the win and in injury time Osadebe volleyed against the bar with interim Manager Richard Cooper relieved to have taken a point, although perhaps on reflection his side deserved more.
Plenty of optimism after a good performance but that first win still eludes the Stags, on this kind of outing it shouldn’t be too far away.
Mansfield Town: Stech, Gordon, Rawson, Perch, McLaughlin, Charsley, Lapslie, Maris, Reid, Maynard, Cook (Bowery 75).
Walsall: Roberts, White (Norman 65), Scarr, Jules, Nurse, Sinclair (Lavery 70), Guthrie (Kinsella 52), Osadebe, Holden, McDonald, Adebayo.
Venue: Field Mill
*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Nicky Maynard scores for the Stags.
