Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 18.02.23

The Stags went into the game on Merseyside looking to extend their unbeaten run to six games and manager, Nigel Clough, named an unchanged starting eleven from that which demolished hosts Carlisle United, in midweek.

The only changes were on the bench, Clough bringing back George Maris to the match-day squad, and, having gave a debut to one Academy player midweek, put another, Darien Wauchope, on the bench on Merseyside.

It would be the hosts who’d start the stronger, Harvey Saunders and Lee O’Connor both having early chances, the Stags being tested well, however, the presence of the irresistible Davis Keillor-Dunn soon took effect.

It would be he who’d have the Stags’ first real chance of the chance, quickly followed by one from Lucas Akins, both of which required saves from the hosts’ Irish shot-stopper, Joe Murphy.

Stephen Quinn then saw a set-piece go wide right of Murphy’s goal as the visiting Stags looked to assert some authority on the game, although the hosts saw Josh Dacres-Cogley send an effort wide of Christy Pym’s goal, shortly before the opener arrived.

That came on thirty-four minutes when this time, a set-piece from Quinn, paid off, his cross into the home box was met by the head of Riley Harbottle, he opening the scoring, past Murphy, from close range.

The hosts continued to create chances in a rather game, Jay Turner-Cooke going close, whilst Joel Mumbongo was caught offside; Keillor-Dunn then went close, twice, in quick succession, as the game headed into the break with the Stags holding a slender lead.

The second period carried on in much the same vein, Stags captain, Ollie Clarke, sending a right-footed effort high and wide, following a headed knock-down from Keillor-Dunn, the January signing proving a masterstroke for Clough’s side.

Minutes later and Josh Hawkes was then caught offside for the hosts, before Akins, and Clarke, again, missed chances, Murphy saving from the latter, before the Tranmere’s resolve was finally broken.

Ten minutes into the second and the lead was doubled, and Keillor-Dunn, who else, would find the net, with his for the club, firing a right-footed effort into Murphy’s bottom right-hand corner, before the game began to get a little tetchy, fouls and free-kicks like they were going out of business, Harbottle being booked for a foul.

The chances though, they continued, Jordan Bowery, and Keillor-Dunn, in quick succession, the former seeing his saved off a Keillor Dunn assist, the latter following a Bowery assist, the pair continuing to link-up well.

Heading into the final ten minutes and the hosts had further opportunities to notch, Regan Hendry’s blocked, Harvey Saunders and Kyle Jameson testing the Stags back-line.

After Akins was then caught offside, Hendry, and Logan Chambers, both saw chances snuffed out late on as Pym and company held on for another clean-sheet, and another three points, stretching that unbeaten run to six matches (won four, drawn two).

Next up, and the Stags are back at home, hosting Salford City as they push to break into the automatic promotion places, just three points, and a game in hand, splitting Clough’s charges, and third place Carlisle – Salford City, they’re sitting in the final play-off spot (seventh), three points behind the high-flying Stags.

Tranmere Rovers: Murphy, Cogley, Davies, Jameson, Bristow, Turner-Cooke (Chalmers 58), O’Connor, Hendry, Hawkes, Mumbongo (Burton 58), Saunders.

Mansfield Town: Pym, Hewitt, Harbottle, Kilgour, Perch, Bowery, Clarke, Wallace, Quinn, Keillor-Dunn (Boateng 78), Akins.

Venue: Prenton Park (6,282)

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc celebrations during a winning day on the Wirral.