Colchester United 2-2 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 14.02.21

Mansfield Town were denied a dramatic victory by a late leveller in a Valentines cracker in Essex as both sides shared four goals and honours ended even at the Community Stadium.

The Stags got off to the perfect start after just four minutes when former Ipswich Town defender Tommy Smith turned into his own net but the U’s were level six minutes before the break when Callum Harriott netted to tie things up.

Mansfield had the better of the early opportunities in the second half as McLaughlin tried his luck on 57 from range before Bowery was brought down inside the box on 65 with nothing given amidst the Stags cries.

As both teams made changes in search of a winner it was James Perch, on 81 minutes who was in the right place after Jamie Reid cut back to the stand in full back to place the ball home for a first in yellow and blue and an unlikely winner pending for the away team but Frank Nouble had other ideas as the striker levelled things up on 89 minutes courtesy of a deflection, with still time for Aidan Stone to be called into action in injury time as the Mansfield goalkeeper denied Chilvers powerful effort from nestling home for a comeback victory that would have been the first league defeat for Nigel Clough’s men since mid-December.

In the end a point shared was one gained on the road and Mansfield now stretch their unbeaten record to eight league games but the Manager was annoyed that it wasn’t all three after conceding a late leveller to deny the Stags all three.

Clough saying “We’re disappointed because of the nature of the equaliser – both the timing and the deflection.”

On reflection, Clough said “First 20 minutes we played well and got the goal, then we sort of lost our way and they get back into the game.

“I thought for the vast majority of the second-half, it was us who were in the ascendancy.

“I thought we should have won the game. When you go ahead twice, I think there is always going to be disappointment when you don’t get the three points.”

Mansfield next face Bolton Wanderers in a match that has already been called off on a couple of occasions. Hope is that this time, Wednesday 5pm at Field Mill, the match will finally go ahead with more potential points on offer for Mansfield.

Colchester United: George, Welch-Hayes, Eastman, Smith, Doherty (Clampin 69), Pell, Lapslie (Chilvers 80), Harriott, Poku (Oteh 85), Senior (Stevenson 69), Nouble.

Mansfield Town: Stone, Perch, Rawson, Sweeney, McLaughlin, Clarke, Maris, Quinn (Benning 80), Charsley, Reid, Bowery.

Venue: Colchester Community Stadium

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc action from Essex as both teams share the spoils.