Five Star Stags Squash Don’s

Mansfield Town 5-2 AFC Wimbledon (EFL League Two) 16.08.22

Mansfield Town came from two goals behind to beat ten men Wimbledon on a miraculous mostly wet night at the One Call Stadium, a second home win and two victories in four for the Stags who leap-frog to tenth in the table.

The home side were a goal behind in the opening four minutes when Josh Davison fired home from an acute angle, and things got worse for Nigel Clough’s men after sixteen minutes when the same player made it two with a deflected effort following his cross shot from the right hand side.

Rhys Oates pulled one back for the Stags on 32 minutes from the penalty spot after George Lapslie was bundled over and Mansfield levelled five minutes ahead of half time as Lapslie dived in during a down pour to head home Jordan Bowery’s inviting centre.

Former Forest full back Chris Gunter was then sent off for striking out on the stroke of half time, a decision he’ll rue and one which cost the Dons the game as in the second half, Mansfield with their man advantage proved too strong.

A well worked goal on 56 saw Clarke pull back to Maris who finished low before Riley Harbottle powerfully headed home his second Stags goal of the season from a corner on 70.

Substitute Will Swan capping off a fine night with his first Mansfield goal since his loan move from Forest, tapping home from close range into an empty net.

Nigel Clough said after “Once we got into our stride after 20 minutes, we deserved the points”.

He continued “We got the balance just about right and made it difficult for them to get back in the game. The quality of the goals and the crossing was very good indeed. Everyone played well. It was difficult to pick a man of the match.”

Mansfield Town: Pym, Perch, O’Toole, Harbottle, McLaughlin (Gordon 71), Clarke (Wallace 78), Maris, Quinn (Hartigan 62), Lapslie, Oates (Swan 78), Bowery (Hewitt 78).

AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Gunter, Brown, Nightingale, Marsh, Young-Coombes (Ogundere 46), Davison (Bartley 83), Assal (Chislett 89), Pearce (Kalambayi 83), Maghoma, Currie (Fisher 62).

Venue: Field Mill (5,709)

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc James Perch & Riley Harbottle celebrate their win.

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