Stags Hit Hatters For Five

A brace in each half, from Nathan Moriah-Welsh (17 & 28) and Jon Russell (47 & 56) helped Nigel Clough’s Mansfield Town side to a 5-2 win over former Premier League side, Luton Town, on Sunday afternoon.

Victory sees the Stags move up to fifth in the EFL League One table, whilst the Hatters find themselves in thirteenth place, their goals coming late on from a Nakhi Wells brace of his own, his first coming from the penalty spot with twelve minutes remaining.

By the time Wells had scored, the Stags were already five goals to the good, from which the first three came in a dominant, first half showing; the opening goal arrived on 17 minutes, Russell laying off Moriah-Welsh to fire home inside the visiting near post.

The hosts’ lead was doubled ten minutes later, Moriah-Welsh unleashing a rocket from just inside the box, and into the far corner of Josh Keeley’s goal, before turning provider on the stroke of half-time for Louis Reed to fire home a first-time effort, and a three-goal, interval advantage.

A fourth goal was quickly added shortly after the restart when Regan Hendry’s ball was slid home by Russell on 47 minutes, before Hendry was involved again ten minutes later, his cross helped on by Michael Smith, and Russell on the spot to put the ball into the top corner for five.

A handful of changes by the hosts came either side of their fifth goal, former County striker, David McGoldrick, on for Russell, amongst them, before a penalty was conceded as the game headed towards the final ten minutes, Wells netting from the soot.

Wells was on-hand to add a second goal for the Hatters in stoppage time, firing past Liam Roberts in the home goal from range, with Mansfield eventually running out 5-2 victors.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Liam Roberts, Kyle Knoyle (Liam Roberts, 85), Deji Oshilaja, Ryan Sweeney (capt; Frazer Blake-Tracy, 53), Louis Reed (Elliott Hewitt, 53), Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Jon Russell (David McGoldrick, 68), Liam Thompson, Stephen McLaughlin, Regan Hendry, Michael Smith (Rhys Oates, 68)

Next up for Clough’s Stags, a trip to lowly Reading on Wednesday (2 September) night, 20:00 kick-off, followed by a visit to Bradford City on Saturday (5 September) afternoon.