Stevenage 0-1 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 17.04.21
A huge win for Nigel Clough’s men see’s the Stags almost there, in relation to gaining enough points for League Two safety this season, Mansfield now have an eleven point cushion on the bottom two with just four games to play.
An early call for a penalty was turned down by the Referee as Reid was brought down in the Stevenage box after just one minute but Stags appeals fell on deaf ears. Ten minutes later Aidan Stone was forced into a save as he produced a fine stop from Martin’s header to keep the scores at nil nil.
A tightly contested half saw a couple of bookings for fouls before Ryan Sweeney put the Stags in the lead on 24 minutes with his second of the season, slotting home from inside the area after picking up possession.
A great chance to double the advantage was missed three minutes later when Bowery laid off to Sinclair who forced Cumming into a save before on the stoke of half time the same player again tested the goalkeeper who was equal to the task.
The hosts came out from half time in search of a leveller and went close when Aitchison fired over after a neat move before Stone saved superbly from Norris on 54 to keep the Stags slender advantage intact.
At the other end Law’s tame shot deflected into the hands of Cumming the only real effort of ambition shown by Mansfield as they looked to sit on what they had, defending everything superbly until the whistle for full time which the players and staff were more than glad to hear.
The win means Mansfield in eighteenth have 49 points, one win should now be enough, to ensure that it will be another year in the football league come August.
Stevenage: Cumming, Wildin, Vancooten, Prosser, Martin (Coker 72), Osborne (Smith 46), Pett, Lines, Aitchison, Norris, List.
Mansfield Town: Stone, Perch, Rawson, Sweeney, McLaughlin, Lapslie (Law 62), Maris, Sinclair (Charsley 87), Quinn (Clarke 54), Bowery, Reid.
Venue: Broadhall Way
*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Jordan Bowery running at the Stevenage defence.