Mansfield Town 2-0 Newport County (EFL League Two) 18.11.23
Another three points in the bag as Mansfield Town moved into second place in EFL League Two this past Saturday afternoon after Davis Keillor-Dunn’s brace gave the Stags three points at home to Newport County.
Unbeaten in the league, it now stands at seventeen games this season (nine wins, eight draws), Nigel Clough’s charges welcomed lowly County, who’s form has been somewhat mixed in recent weeks, winning four of their last dozen (all competitions).
Mansfield though, they continue to grind out the results, irrespective of opponent, and, despite a recent blip which saw them lost three successive cup matches, continue to shine in the league, mercurial attacking midfielder, Davis Keillor-Dunn, again showing his prowess.
Currently averaging a goal every 166 minutes, Keillor-Dunn’s brace, his goals coming at the start of each half against Newport, sees the Wearsider move onto 11 goals (and four assists) thus far this campaign.
The opener came in the first five minutes of the game when a pass into the centre from Rhys Oates was only half-cleared as far as the lurking Keillor-Dunn, and he wasted little in firing a low shot past visiting ‘keeper, Antiguan Nick Townsend, for his tenth of the season.
A flurry of chances came the way of the hosts during a dominant first half which included a goal-line clearance following a headed effort by Louis Reed, minutes before the Stags were awarded, and missed, a spot-kick, Townsend saving from Oates just after the half hour mark.
The hosts would even see a cross-cum-shot from defender Calum Johnson hit the top of Townsend’s crossbar as the game headed towards the break, the Stags easily could have had three or more to their name.
The visitors came close to equalising in the opening throes of a return to action, Will Evans with an effort that is saved by home shot-stopper, Christy Pym, before another effort on goal is blocked.
It would be seven minutes after the restart when the second goal was finally added by the hosts, County’s resistance finally broken after George Maris played a lovely through-ball for Keillor-Dunn to hit a first-time effort into Townsend’s bottom corner, the Stags’ top scorer moving onto eleven for the season.
Moments later the same player scuppered the opportunity for a hat-trick, combining again with Maris before seeing his effort go wide from ten yards out; the visitors managed a couple of breakthrough attempts as the game wore on.
Omar Bogle set Evans away just before the hour mark, but Pym saves the first time effort, Lewis Payne put a burst through the home defence only to see his effort blocked, James Waite drives one over the bar, and Evans sees one brilliantly blocked by Lewis Brunt, the visitors looking to force themselves back into the contest.
As the game headed through the closing ten minutes, the Stags again upped the tempo in search of an elusive third as Jordan Bowery saw his half-volley sail wide, and Keillor-Dunn pulling a fine save from Townsend with a driven effort as they held on for a comfortable, 2-0 win.
It is now two away games next up for the Stags, away to Burton Albion on the EFL Trophy, on Tuesday (21 November) night, before making the trip to Swindon Town on Saturday (25 November) afternoon as the Stags look to maintain some momentum.
Stags: Christy Pym, Calum Johnson, Aden Flint, Lewis Brunt, Baily Cargill, Louis Reed, Aaron Lewis (Stephen Quinn 80), George Maris (Hiram Boateng 80), Davis Keillor-Dunn (Will Swan 90), Rhys Oates (Lucas Akins 75), Jordan Bowery (James Gale 89).
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Davis Keillor Dunn scores again for Mansfield.
