Stags Shock Owls In Cup Win

Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Mansfield Town *4-5 pens (EFL Cup Round Two) 29.08.2023

Championship opposition provided the backdrop for Mansfield Town this midweek as Nigel Clough’s Stags continued their unbeaten start to the season with a sudden death, penalty shoot-out success at Hillsborough, home of Sheffield Wednesday.

Visiting shot-stopper, Christy Pym, took the plaudits with numerous, top quality saves during the ninety minutes, before saving two Owls penalties in the shoot-out, whilst Aden Flint continues to impress since his move from Stoke City.

The hosts had the better of the opening half hour with both Ashley Fletcher and Pol Valentin missing chances early on, whilst Josh Windass was prevented from firing on Christy Pym’s goal by a joint, defensive block, from Aden Flint and Callum Macdonald.

It was the Owls therefore that took the league, inside half an hour, a ball back across the box from Callum Paterson was headed home at Pym’s back post by Dutch striker, Anthony Musaba, the Stags creating their first real chance minutes later when Aden Flint’s headed ball back across goal was met by the head of Lucas Akins, home shot-stopper, Cameron Dawson, however well-placed to catch.

The Stags would find them restricted to mainly efforts from distance, and that’s where their next opportunity arose, Davis Keillor-Dunn firing over from twenty yards, before Louis Reed dragged a chance wide of Dawson’s goal, the visitors looking to level things up.

As the game ticked towards the interval, the hosts came close to going in two goals to the good, Josh Windass’ effort, following a forward burst from Valentin, crashes off Pym’s crossbar from outside the box, the hosts making do with a slender, one-goal advantage.

Pym was again called into action early in the second period, producing back-to-back saves including the second, a twenty-yarder from Windass, at full stretch, before Flint created another opportunity for the visitors when chesting down and volleying from a corner, which saw a deflection away from goal.

Just before the hour mark and the visitors had a glorious chance to equalise, Jordan Bowery shaking past his marker, Owls captain Barry Bannan, but his left-footed effort went narrowly over Dawson’s bar, from range; then came the one change for the visitor.

In the 62 minute, Stags supremo, Nigel Clough, replaced Lucas Akins with Rhys Oates, and it would be he who’d prove the difference-maker late on, both sides creating chances throughout but with neither finding that killer touch.

Will Swan saw a headed effort, from a Louis Reed cross, come to nothing at one end, then Chilean defender, Juan Delgado produced another great save from Pym at the other, as the game headed into the final ten minutes, and the eventual equaliser.

That landed with five minutes left of regulation time, the Stags looking like they’d be heading out of the competition, however, dreams were kept very much alive when substitute Oates produced a moment of brilliance for his fourth of the season, collecting the ball on the left, taking on a few Owls defensive challenges, before curling a twenty-yarder past Dawson for 1-1.

Neither side could muster a late winner, the tie heading to penalties with the Stags going first, both sides netting their first three penalties apiece; Jordan Bowery, George Maris and Davis Keillor-Dunn all scoring from twelve yards.

Then, Dawson saved Will Swan’s spot-kick, before the first of two saves in the shoot-out, Pym denying Welshman, Will Vaulks; Rhys Oates and Aden Flint then converted successfully with the contest now in sudden death, Pym then saving from Scotsman Liam Palmer to seal the 5-4 shoot-out victory, and put the Stags into the draw for third round for the first time since 2005.

Flint’s penalty was perhaps more sweeter for the Stags defender, the 34-year-old centre-back having had two spells on loan at Hillsborough in the past couple of years, making 25 appearances for the Owls.

Now though, it’s back to league duty for the Stags, who are unbeaten now in seven outings in all competitions, they hosting Bradford City at the One Call Stadium on Saturday (2 September) afternoon.

Stags: Christy Pym, Jordan Bowery, Lewis Brunt, Aden Flint, Callum Macdonald, Louis Reed, George Maris, Ollie Clarke, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Will Swan, Lucas Akins (Rhys Oates 62).