Notts County continue to remain unbeaten following their return to EFL League One this season, holding high-fliers Huddersfield Town to a 1-1 draw at the Accu Stadium, whilst Mansfield Town seem to have hit an early bump in the road, falling to a second successive defeat, this time at Bradford City.

The Terriers gave themselves an early lead after just twelve minutes, Derensili Sanches Fernandes registering his third assist in two games, playing in Marcus Harness, who smashed the ball into James Belshaw’s bottom corner.

As for the equaliser, that came from a defensive error by home shot-stopper, Matty Young, the nineteen-year-old loanee from Premier League Sunderland misjudged a punch clear, the ball hitting teammate Ashley Fletcher and falling nicely for Ollie Cooper to tap home his second in two games.

Fletcher had several chances either side of the break in which to give the Terriers the points, but to no avail, whilst Cooper had an effort deflect wide early in the opening stages of the second half for County.

County boss, Martin Paterson, sent on Luka Smyth, on for Daniel Kanu midway through the second half, and he came close to snatching it for the visitors in the latter stages, both sides though settling for a point apiece, and keeping their respective, unbeaten records.

NOTTS COUNTY – James Belshaw, James Gibbons (Matthew Baker, 56), Lucas Ness, Jacob Bedeau (capt), Nick Tsaroulla (Ishe Samuels-Smith, 74), Rory Finneran, Jack Evans, Darius Lipsiuc, Ollie Cooper (Conor Grant, 74), Callum Roberts (Hindolo Mustapha, 68), Daniel Kanu (Luka Smyth, 68)

Mansfield meanwhile have now lost their last two, following up a drubbing in their last game, with a lone-goal reverse at Bradford City.

The only goal of the game came midway through the first half, Antoni Sarcevic after Jake Beasley won the ball, and the Bantams number ten put on a beautiful finish past former Bantams ‘keeper, Harry Lewis after eighteen minutes.

Both sides created plenty of chances throughout, but it was the hosts who held on for maximum points and moved within touching distance of the early pace-setters.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Harry Lewis, Kyle Knoyle (Elliott Hewitt, 64), Deji Oshilaja, Ryan Sweeney (capt), Louis Reed (Luke Bolton, 66), Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Rhys Oates, 46), George Maris, Liam Thompson, Frazer Blake-Tracy, Michael Smith (Tyler Roberts, 80), Regan Hendry (David McGoldrick, 46)

Next up for both sides, twelfth place Notts County welcome fourth place Bradford City to Meadow Lane in a lunch-time kick-off, whilst Mansfield Town, sitting in sixteenth, host Huddersfield Town, in second, on the afternoon, Saturday 12 September.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC pretty in pink Notts celebrate at Huddersfield.