Stags Still Unbeaten As They See Off Stanley

Accrington Stanley 0-3 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 09.09.2023

Unbeaten run stretched to nine matches in all competitions (four wins, five draws), up to third in the table and a point behind second place Notts County, and a 40-yard wonder strike to seal a comfortable win on the road as Mansfield Town won 3-0 away to Accrington Stanley.

The hosts set about unsettling the Stags in the opening twenty minutes, chances pretty much at a minimum for both sides as they tried to get some kind of footing in the game, the hosts’ Jay Rich-Baghuelou seeing yellow inside ten for a late challenge on James Gale.

As the game ticked past the twenty minutes, both sides registered decent chances, first, Jordan Bowery’s cross just missed the head of Maris with the return ball off-the-mark, whilst at the other end, minutes later, Josh Andrews headed narrowly wide of Christy Pym’s goal.

Then came the opening goal, and a beautiful effort from mercurial attacking midfielder, Davis Keillor-Dunn, just before the half hour mark; Gale found himself with space to fire a cross in from the right and Keillor-Dun was afforded both time, and space, to chest the ball into the air, and release an overhead kick into Toby Savin’s top corner.

If that was decent, the best was still to come, the visitors extending their lead less than ten minutes later as Keillor-Dunn turned provider, he having a great start to the campaign; Aaron Lewis threaded a pass to DKD who, in turn, played the ball back on the right for George Maris through the middle of the park, the battling midfielder finishing a beautiful move when sliding the ball past Savin in the home goal.

The goals, they emanated from just the two shots on target the Stags registered in the first period, although they could have extended that advantage late in the half, Gale’s shot however blocked before, deep in stoppage time, Christy Pym was called into action when he prevented Jack Nolan’s 25-yarder from passing him.

Early in the second and DKD was at it again, this time his effort was stopped well by Savin following a through-ball from Lucas Akins, whilst Pym saved well from Andrews before seeing Nolan’s follow-up effort sail over the bar, and Hiram Boateng sees his curling effort from range go narrowly wide of goal.

Then came THAT goal, from Aaron Lewis….

WATCH – ‘Mansfield’s Aaron Lewis with an outrageous goal against Accrington Stanley below…

The TECHNIQUE…😍

Mansfield’s Aaron Lewis with an outrageous goal against Accrington Stanley ⚡ pic.twitter.com/mCMSEUEhBH

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 9, 2023

The hosts were looking to work a defensive clearance, playing the ball across the back line and, with Savin spotting a teammate on his left flank, proceeded to clear the ball there – it didn’t make it, instead sailing towards the lurking Lewis who, at the first time of asking, hit a sweet, right foot volley, goal-wards with fifteen remaining.

Savin was caught completely off-guard on one side of his goal, and Lewis’ effort sailed majestically, curling into the top, far corner, much to the delight of his teammates, and many more in the beautiful game.

It was the brightest of shining lights for the Stags as they saw out the game happy with the three goals, although they easily have had more, including late substitute, Ollie Clarke, who slipped at the last when bursting into the home box with the officials having added some FOURTEEN MINUTES added time.

It mattered not however, Mansfield taking the points, and a comfortable 3-0 win, back to Nottinghamshire; next up for Nigel Clough’s charges, a trip to fifth-bottom Colchester United, this coming Saturday, 16 September, they looking to move to ten unbeaten.

Speaking of three special, but different goals from the Stags’ trio of Keillor-Dunn (sixth of the season), Maris (third of season) and that Lewis strike (first of campaign), manager Clough told iFollow Stags afterwards; ““They were special goals.

“The third will take everybody’s attention. I’m not sure how far he (Lewis) hit it from, I think it was the distance and the fact he hit it first time which made it remarkable.

“It was one of those where everything freezes, time freezes as everyone just watches the ball float towards the goal to see if it’s going to dip underneath the crossbar or not, but it was a magnificent effort.” Read the full interview here

Stags: Christy Pym, Jordan Bowery, Aden Flint, Lewis Brunt, Calum Macdonald (Baily Cargill 78), Aaron Lewis (George Williams 90), Louis Reed, George Maris (Hiram Boateng 57), Davis Keillor-Dunn (Will Swan, 77), Lucas Akins, James Gale (Ollie Clarke 90).