Mansfield Town 4-2 Peterborough United (EFL League One) 30.04.2025

Safety already assured, a debut for goalkeeper Owen Mason, and a six-goal thriller; Nigel Clough’s Mansfield side turned on the style on Wednesday night when brushing aside Peterborough United, 4-2, in an entertaining encounter at the One Call Stadium.

Mason, who is a product of the Stags’ Academy, recently enjoyed a loan spell in the National League with Tyneside club, Gateshead, but was recalled in mid-February after a three-month stint (15 appearances), donned a Stags first team jersey for the first time, putting in an impressive performance.

The Stags went in three to the good at the break, the majority of the work having been done inside the opening ten minutes as the hosts raced out of the blocks, firing in two early goals.

It could have been more as well, had Keanu Baccus’ shot after a couple of minutes, from twenty yards out, brought a save out of Will Blackmore, in the visiting goal; the deadlock though, it was broken just a couple of minutes later when a pass from Dom Dwyer was clipped into the front post and George Maris, via the post, was on-hand to prod home.

A further three minutes passed when the lead was doubled, Jordan Bowery stealing the ball in the opposition area, Baccus took over and fired a lovely strike, from the edge of the box, into Blackmore’s top corner, sending the majority of the 7,373 crowd, into raptures.

An effort from Gustav Lindgren, as the game ticked towards the quarter hour, pulled a first save from home shot-stopper, the 21-year-old Mason saving well at his near post; over the next fifteen minutes the Stags saw efforts from both Maris, and Bowery, come to nothing, before a third was added.

Louis Reed was seen to whip in a cross on 34 minutes which was met by the head of Will Evans, the ball lopping past Blackmore into the net, before Stags boss, Clough, needed to make a change due to injury for defender, Deji Oshilaja, Stephen Quinn taking his place.

Having led by three at the break, the Stags pet visiting Posh back into the game six minutes after the restart; a clearance from Bowery only got as far as Ryan de Havilland on the edge of the box, and he fired a low effort into Mason’s goal.

The three-goal advantage was restored eight minutes later, Evans grabbing his second of the evening, and in style; first half substitute, Quinn, played a pass inside and, some 25-yards from goal, Evans let go with his right, curling the ball past Blackmore and in off the upright.

As the game moved into the final ten, Lindgren would be seen to rattle Mason’s crossbar, whilst Caylan Vickers headed over Blackmore’s, at the other end, shortly after; the visitors though, made from an interesting finish, as both sides continued to go all out for more goals.

With three minutes of normal time remaining Abraham Odoh’s pass was swept home by Lindgren, but it was too little, too late for Posh, an Evans double here flashback to the same, in Peterborough, back on Boxing Day, when the Stags breezed to a 3-0 win.

That was then, this, 4-2 success, is now, and brought to a half a six-match winless streak which had seen them lose their previous two, 4-0 away to League One champions Birmingham City, and 5-1 at home to Reading.

There’s now just one game remaining of the 2024-25 season for Clough’s Stags, home to Exeter City on Saturday, 3 May, with the home boss saying afterwards: “It was a perfect night.

“We could have scored more as well; they could have done.

“I think it could have finished about 8-5, 8-6, something like that would have been a fair reflection, but good entertainment for everybody and lovely to see a smile on everybody’s faces with four goals and three points.”

Meanwhile, of Mason’s debut, Richard Cooper, Mansfield Town Academy Manager, said on socials afterwards: “Debuts are earned, and Owen has certainly done just that!

“He has improved both physically and mentally to put himself in that position last night.

“We are extremely proud of you. Hard work pays off.”

Mansfield Town: Owen Mason, Jordan Bowery, Deji Oshilaja (Stephen Quinn, 38), Baily Cargill, Elliott Hewitt (Aden Flint, 53), Keanu Baccus, Louis Reed, George Maris (Caylan Vickers, 69), Stephen McLaughlin, Dom Dwyer (Jordan Rhodes 69), Will Evans (Hiram Boateng, 69).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Will Evans netted two to take him to fourteen league goals this season.