Grimsby Town 2-0 Mansfield Town (EFL Trophy Group F) 20.09.22

A much-changed Mansfield Town were beaten by Grimsby at Blundell Park as goals from former Stag, Otis Khan and striker Danilo Orsi, helped the Mariners to a Papa John’s Trophy win.

After winning their first match in the competition against Manchester City U21’s in August, Mansfield may have hoped for better against Grimsby who slipped to defeat at Derby in their opening group game, but Nigel Clough’s men were second best in front of a low crowd of just 912 as their hosts took early advantage and controlled thereafter.

Eight changes were made to the side that beat Gillingham on Saturday and the Stags were behind on fifteen minutes as the debuting Khan poked home against his old club.

Things got worse as an injury to Antony Hartigan later turned out to be a dislocated shoulder, he went off on the half hour, replaced by George Maris.

Shortly after, Danilo Orsi, slipped through by Simmonds, fired low past Flinders to make it 2-0 with still six minutes remaining before the break.

Mansfield made just one more change at half time as they came out of the traps in search of a goal, but despite early efforts from James Perch and Jordan Bowery, they couldn’t reduce the two score deficit in front of them.

Clifton blazing over at the other end before Gale did the same for Mansfield. Pepple may have made it three late on but for firing wide of Flinders posts.

After the match, not too disheartened by the result, Manager Nigel Clough stated “You saw Kieran Wallace and Quinny needing games, they were a little bit short, Will at times too – they needed that game.

“JJ and Perchy haven’t started in the last couple of weeks. So It was great from that point of view, the only nightmare of the evening is Anthony Hartigan.”

Grimsby Town: Crocombe, Efete, Maher, Pearson, Amos, Khan (Pepple 46), Clifton (holohan 88), Khouri, Maguire-Drew (Richardson 79), Simmonds (Wearne 46), Orsi (Glennon 88).

Mansfield Town: Flinders, Gordon (Law 69), O’Toole, Bowery, Perch, McLaughlin (Hewitt 46), Hartigan (Maris 30), Wallace (Harbottle 73), Quinn (Quinn 73) , Gale, Swan.

Venue: Blundell Park (912)

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc action at Blundell Park as James Perch goes up for a header.