Walsall 1-1 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 09.02.21

After sixteen days without one, it was nice just to have a game of football as Mansfield Town, hindered by the weather of late, finally got back on the turf to face a familiar face and Darrell Clarke’s Walsall in a re-arranged fixture at the Bescot Stadium in the SkyBet League Two.

The Stags started well as Jamie Reid shot left footed from outside the box narrowly missing the left hand post on four minutes but an early injury to George Lapslie meant that Ollie Clarke would enter the field after just eleven minutes as the first sub used for Nigel Clough. Eleven minutes later the home side would go 1-0 up when on 22, Max Melbourne shot right footed into the bottom left hand corner from close range.

Stephen McLaughlin struck wide from far out as the Stags responded to attack the Saddlers goal and on the half hour, it was substitute Clarke who got Mansfield back on level terms when Bowery played a one-two with Reid to find the former Bristol Rovers midfielder who made no mistake.

That spurred the Stags on to push for more and the away side ended the half well, not able to make further impact on Liam Roberts goal, Bowery testing the former Rainworth Miners Welfare goalkeeper on a couple of occasions before slicing another opportunity wide of the mark prior to the break.

In the second half Nigel Clough’s men tried but couldn’t force the advantage as Charsley poked straight at the keeper just minutes in, at the other end Lavery headed wide from Wright’s free kick. Rawson doing the same for Mansfield, heading off target from McLaughlan’s set-piece delivery.

As the clock ticked and both sides made changes, Bowery still threatened Roberts goal as he latched on to a long ball on 81 to fire at the goalkeeper who saved before Charsley struck the rebound wide, the best of the final chances as both sides finished content with a draw.

Nigel Clough saying after “I think it’s a very good point in the conditions. It was very difficult for both teams to play and chances were at a premium”

The point means Mansfield in fourteenth end their five match winning run, but still unbeaten in seven, the Stags have now 33 points and are nine points off the playoffs, ten points safe of the drop zone. Next up is a trip to Colchester United on Saturday. Weather permitting.

Walsall: Roberts, White, Scarr, Sadler, Melbourne, Wright (Nolan 63), Kinsella, Bates (Vincent 77), McDonald, Gordon, Lavery (Osei Yaw 77).

Mansfield Town: Stone, Gordon, Rawson, Sweeney, McLaughlin, Quinn (Sarkic 72), Maris, Lapslie (Clarke 12), Charsley, Reid, Bowery.

Venue: Bescot Stadium

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc action from the West Midlands as the two teams share the points.