Stags Through But Notts Exit Cup

There were mixed feelings following Saturday’s FA Cup First Round matches as Mansfield Town progressed, and Notts County exited the famous competition.

Mansfield reached the Second Round following a dramatic, 3-2 home win against Harrogate Town thanks to a second half brace from substitute Geroge Maris, whilst Notts County were beaten on penalties following a 2-2 draw at National League side, Brackley Town, despite having led twice before conceding in stoppage time.

An entertaining contest burst into life, with the opening goal, after just four minutes when Stephen McLaughlin’s ball into the box was met by Regan Hendry, the midfielder bagging his third goal of the season.

The Stags had chances to double their lead, but Mark Oxley’s goal held firm as Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Jamie McDonnell saw efforts go wide either side of Rhys Oates seeing his go over the crossbar.

Leading by that solitary, Hendry effort, going into half-time the visitors equalised twelve minutes after the restart when Jack Muldoon found himself in behind the home defence, picked out Stephen Duke-McKenna, and he smashed the ball into Liam Roberts’ top corner.

Visiting joy didn’t last too long however when, shortly after the hour mark, Maris, who’d replaced Hendry at the start of the second half, got on the end of a lay-off from fellow substitute, Jordan Bowery, his deflected effort hitting the back of Oxley’s net.

Again though, the visitors found an equaliser when, with ten minutes of the contest remaining, Reece Smith’s corner was headed past Roberts by Anthony O’Connor to tie the game at twos-apiece.

The hosts though regained their lead just minutes later, Maris with his second of the game, and the season to date, slotting Moriah-Welsh’s pass into the bottom corner, a goal which proved to be the winner for Nigel Clough’s side, and booked the Stags’ place in the next round.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Liam Roberts, Kyle Knoyle, Deji Oshilaja, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Stephen McLaughlin (Ryan Sweeney, 84), Aaron Lewis, Jamie McDonnell (Louis Reed, 46), Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Regan Hendry (George Maris, 46), Joe Gardner (Jordan Bowery, 54), Rhys Oates (Lucas Akins, 69)

Meanwhile, Martin Paterson’s Notts County side exited the FA Cup when away to National League outfit, Brackley Town.

County led twice in a game that saw two penalties in normal time, finished level after extra-time, before being decided on penalties.

Alassana Jatta put County in-front midway through the first half before Matt Loew equalised ten minutes later; Jodie Jones converted a spot-kick early in the second half but the hosts

held out to level with a penalty of their own, via Callum Stewart, in the sixth minute of added time.

Extra-time couldn’t separate the two sides and, following a 2-2 draw, the tie went to penalties, County seeing Jatta’s effort hit the crossbar, and Keanan Bennett’s effort saved by Jon Maxted in the home goal, before Zak Brown buried the winner to send the hosts through.

Next up for each, as the Stags await the draw for the Second Round of the FA Cup, it’s a return to league action; Mansfield travelling to sixteenth place Northampton Town (Saturday 8 November) in League One, and County are at fifth bottom Cheltenham Town (Monday, 10 November) in League Two.