Mansfield Town 2
Stockport 1
Stags saw the returan of Stephen Dawson and Gavin Peers in to the starting eleven after Simon Brown failed a fitness test with his hamstring injury and Peers replacing Jason Talbot. this meant that Jake Buxton took up the role of left back allowing Gavin to fall in to his more natural role at the right of the defensive back four.
Stockport's Chris Turner was fielding an unchamged squad from the previous week and with both teams playing the regular 4-4-2 system and being capable of scoring goals the stage was set for a real goal fest. in fact there was only three with strikes form Gavin Peers and captain Richard barker for the Stags and a consolation for Jermaine Easter in what was a real 'game of two halves'.
In the opening 56 seconds the Stags came close when Rundle burst down the left flank and sent a powerful cross into the box where Jonathan D'Laryea ran in to head the ball home. His attempt came to nothing as the ball travelling at some pace hit the midfield player in the face instead of his head. Had it hit the target it surely would have been a goal.
A header from Gavin Peers was just the latest threat in the opening ten minutes. But much to the relief of Spencer in the hatter's goal it went wide and out of play. The Stags kept up the relentless pressure and Barker fired a long range effort which called Spencer into action again this time only just getting a finger tip to it to concede the corner.
The corner taken was passed around the final third well by then Stags but was wasted as the ball fell to Giles Coke who mis-timed his run and the ball found it's way to the Blue shirts of Stockport.
In the sixteenth minute Jermaine Easter came close for Stockport when deep in the Stags box and off side he turned and struck the ball scraping the far upright. Pressman dived at full stretch to cover the ball in case the referee Mr Russell let it count.
A 22nd minute break by Barker saw him one on one with keeper Spencer but before he could make proper contact with the ball he fell on the slippery playing surface and the ball came of Spencer's hand and the post for the Stag's fourth corner.
A 25th minute freekick from the left side found the head of Richard Barker. His crouching header found Gavin Peers who staking his claim for a starting place opened the scoring.
In the 31st minute the Stags furthered their lead, this time there was no doubt that Richard got the goal. A goalkick found the Stag's forward who pushed the ball passed the keeper and than side footed home.
The first change of the day came in the 39th minute when Chris Turner made a double substitution replacing both Keith Briggs and Tes Bramble with Mickael Wolski and Michael Malcolm.
The two minutes of extra time was not enough for the Stags to further their lead despite a late effort from Stephen Dawson who broke free and sent a wild shot across the goalmouth. Keeper Spencer kicked the ball back into open play and referee Mr Russell brought the first half to an end.
Coming back from the break Stockport looked better than they did at the end of the first half keeping play in the Stags third for much of the opening ten minutes.
In the 67th minute Shirtliff brought Alan Russell for his debut replacing Adam Birchall up front with Barker.
As the temperature started to plummet so did the tempo of the game. An exciting and entertaining first half developed into a lack lustre scrappy affair with the ball pinging back and forwards up the pitch.
In the 80th minute Stockport pulled a goal back when Easter was fed a through ball and with only Pressman to beat the Stockport front man pushed the ball through the Stag's keeper's legs.
With only 7 minutes of normal time remaining new boy Russell battled his way past his mark and attempted to drive a low shot home but the ball spun awkwardly of his boot and was easily cleared back up to the Stags third.
In the 85th minute Stockport made their first and final change bringing on Damien Allen to replace Danny Boshell.
With only one minute of the three extra minutes remaining Barker found his name being added to the referee's notebook for an weak challenge in the Stockport half.
Mansfield: Kevin Pressman, Alex John Baptiste, Richard Barker, Adam Birchall, Jake Buxton, Gavin Peers, Giles Coke, Adam Rundle, Stephen Dawson, Jon Olav Hjelde, Jonathan D'Laryea
Stockport: James Spencer, Ross Greenwood, Rob Clare, Danny Boshell, Michael Raynes, Mark Robinson, Keith Briggs, Matty Hamshaw, Harpal Singh, Tes Bramble, Jermaine Easter
Ref: Mr MP Russell
Assts: Mr MA Harris, Mr O Langford
4th Of: Mr PI Thompson
