Mansfield Town 2-2 Forest Green Rovers (EFL League Two) 07.05.22
Mansfield Town confirmed their place in the playoffs with an entertaining draw against Forest Green who in return thanks to earning their point at Field Mill are champions of League Two.
The Stags will now play Northampton Town who missed out on automatic promotion due to goal difference after Bristol Rovers beat bottom of the table Scunthorpe United 7-0.
After a frantic start at the One Call Stadium, Matty Longstaff put the Stags ahead on 17 minutes when he took two bites of the cherry to place eventually past McGee at the second attempt and that’s how it remained until the second half, with Mansfield leading one-nil.
The visitors however clawed themselves back in the game on 64 minutes when Ebou Adams rounded the keeper after being put through but Mansfield retook the lead on 78 when McLaughlin crossed in to Jordan Bowery who did the rest.
Rovers however buoyed by the news that their title rivals Exeter were losing at home to Port Vale, got the all important goal that secured their title, when Josh Marsh chipped over Nathan Bishop after being played through.
In the end a result that both sides wanted, the Stags in the playoffs with a two leg tie starting at home against Northampton with a chance to play the winner of Port Vale and Swindon for a place in the Wembley final.
After the match, Stags Manager Nigel Clough stated “I think we are going into the play-offs in good heart, with some momentum.
“I think the home leg will be where the tie will be decided. Our performances at home have been outstanding.
“We need to make sure we are in with more than a chance after the first leg.”
Mansfield Town: Bishop, Perch (Hewitt 84), O’Toole, Hawkins, McLaughlin, Maris (Wallace 74), Longstaff, Quinn, Murphy (Akins 88), Oates, Bowery.
Forest Green Rovers: McGee, Wilson, Bernard, Stevenson, Adams, Aitchison, Cadden, Matt, Moore-Taylor, Hendry (March 79), Godwin-Malife.
Venue: Field Mill (7,374)
*Main image @mansfieldtownfc the Stags celebrate their opening goal.