Mansfield Town 2-0 Gillingham (EFL League Two) 11.02.23

Minor changes due to injuries in last weeks’ draw at Bradford City proved non-harmful for Nigel Clough’s promotion-chasers, Mansfield Town stretching their unbeaten run to four following a 2-0 win at home to visiting Gillingham.

Ollie Clarke took the captains’ band for the hosts and they delighted as the near 7,000 crowd cheered them to victory thanks to two, first half goals, one from Clarke himself, the other, a spot-kick converted by Lucas Akins.

Both sides had chances early on in the game, Connor Masterson for the visitors, and Clarke for the hosts, in the opening ten, but it was the Clough’s side who’d take the lead, halfway through the first period.

Having had consecutive chances, through Keillor-Dunn (2), Stephen Quinn, and Elliott Hewitt, in the space of five minutes, it would be a captain’s goal which got the Stags on their way.

Clarke having been released by Quinn, took the touch which saw the skipper into the box, proceeded to unleash a left-foot shot past Glenn Morris, in the visiting goal, and in off the post, for the opener.

Another effort came by the way of Clarke before the lead was doubled, less than fifteen minutes later, Gills defender, Max Ehmer, bringing down Stags striker, Lucas Akins, in the box, the home striker dusting himself off and side-footing the ball home.

The Stags were in the ascendency throughout the remainder of the half as they pushed for that killer third, Alfie Kilgour, Kieran Wallace, and Akins all seeing chances go begging, but they had to make do with a two-goal cushion after the first forty-five.

Early in the second period, and with former Stag Ollie Hawkins starting for the Gills (he had a chance either side of the interval), the relegation battlers brought on another ex-Stag, George Lapslie, early in the second, he being one of a triple change the visitors made.

Lapslie would proceed to be given a warm welcome when, within minutes of his arrival, was on the receiving end of a foul from Davis Keillor-Dunn, the newest Stag receiving a booking for his efforts, then, minutes later, Lapslie would find himself in referee, Thomas Kirk’s, black book, seeing yellow for a foul on Clarke.

Both James Perch, and Riley Harbotle, had further chances for the hosts, before Lapslie, continuing to prove a nuisance to his former teammates, came close to getting his new employers back in the game, however, Scott Flinders, in the home goal, was equal to the incoming header, from six yards out, tipping the ball over the bar, with a little under twenty minutes remaining.

Chances became more limited late one, both sides jostling away through a flurry of substitutions, although Will Swan, and Clarke again, had opportunities inside the final ten minutes, the hosts having to make do, easing to a 2-0 win, a result which keeps them sixth in the table, two points off Salford City (5), with a game in hand.

It’s back-to-back away days for the Stags next as Clough’s side continue their promotion push – first up, a trip to Cumbrian outfit, Carlisle United, on Valentine’s Day (14 February), followed by a jaunt over Merseyside next weekend, and Tranmere Rovers (18 February).

Mansfield Town: Scott Flinders, James Perch, Alfie Kilgour, Riley Harbottle, Elliott Hewitt, Kieran Wallace (Jordan Bowery 73), George Maris (John-Joe O’Toole, 83), Stephen Quinn (Hiram Boateng 83), Ollie Clarke, Davis Keillor-Dunn (Will Swan 79), Luca Akins

Venue: One Call Stadium (6, 937)

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Ollie Clarke celebrates his opener for Mansfield.