Report by John Lomas
Mansfield Chad
TWO goals in eight first half minutes saw Mansfield Town come from behind to take maximum points in their first home League game against Milton Keynes at Field Mill tonight.
Excellent finishes by Richie Barker (29) and Michael Boulding (37) sealed an impressive 2-1 win by the Stags against the relegated Dons who are expected to be among this season's frontrunners.
And it set Stags up nicely for Saturday's visit of Stockport County.
The night began badly as Aaron Wilbraham gave the visitors a 10th minute lead.
But Stags turned it on its head before the break and battled well in a stalemate second half, played for a long time in driving rain, with MK Dons having a Clive Platt goal disallowed for offside nine minutes from time.
Bizarrely, Stephen Dawson appeared to be shown his second yellow card of the night a minute from the end but no red followed and he was quickly substituted. At least he didn't get a third!
Stags made just one change from the side that drew 2-2 at Shrewsbury in Saturday's opener with Dawson replacing the injured Coke (ankle) in midfield. Reet had shaken off a knee injury to be named among the substitutes.
Bankhole made his first start in goal for the Dons after they had keeper Adolfe Baines sent off at the weekend while striker Wilbraham came in for central midfielder Smith.
It took Stags just 15 seconds to win a corner and another followed within that first minute which saw Barker head Hamshaw's kick at Bankole at the far post.
In the sixth minute Hamshaw's touch back to Muggleton fell short and the keeper dived bravely at the feet of Platt to prevent him capitalising. Stags quickly broke downfield and this time it was Bankole who needed to be alert, racing out his box to clear ahead of the chasing Brown.
But Dons drew first blood in the 10th minute. A long forward ball by Lewington was nodded perfectly into the path of Wilbraham by the towering Platt. And Wilbraham finished the move with a perfectly-placed finish high to the left of a rooted Muggleton who had no chance of stopping it.
Stung, the home side stepped up the pressure and Brown went close when he turned a volley over the near angle after Dawson had won the ball and sent it into the danger zone.
Dyer's pace threatened to take him clear. But John-Baptiste stuck with him superbly to drive him wide. Stags did survive one or two worrying moments, particularly a Dyer cross that flew across the face of the goal.
But the home side were level on 29 minutes. Hamshaw played the ball forward towards Dawson just inside the box. He helped into the path of Barker who crashed home an unstoppable low finish.
The home side had their tails up now and Bankole had to gather a Mullins header from Dawson's cross.
And they roared into the lead on 37 minutes. Lewington tried to help on a poor kick out by Bankole. But it went straight to Mullins who lofted it forward to Barker.
He found Brown to his right and Brown spotted the run of Boulding and crossed perfectly to give Boulding the chance to smash home a superb close range finish.
Lewington was booked on 42 minutes for a foul on Brown and Dawson joined him a minute later for hacking down McLeod as Stags went in ahead.
Barker was wide with a 30 yard free kick as Mansfield began the second half on the offensive with heavy rain beginning to sweep over Field Mill.
Dons boss Martin Allen was clearly unhappy his side had not managed to step things up and made a double change on 55 minutes as Mitchell and Dyer made way for Smith and Taylor.
Almost immediately Muggleton made a superb save and John-Baptiste a brilliant block in quick succession unaware an offside flag was already raised.
Boulding ran at the Dons defence on 63 minutes but his finish lacked any real menace and was easy for Bankole.
Smith saw a quick free kick deflect just wide as Stags were forced to defend successive corners.
Birchall offered fresh legs for Boulding on 65 minutes as Stags made their first change.
Diallo was booked for bringing down Dawson in full flight. But Hamshaw wasted the free kick by over hitting it. Then Wilbraham was cautioned for handball.
Stags had a big let-off nine minuets from time as McGovern slipped a through ball for McLeod to set up Platt for what he thought was an equaliser. But an offside flag saved Mansfield's bacon.
It was hearts in mouth stuff near the end as Mullins' leg turned aside a goal bound McLeod shot who also fired wide from a good position soon after. Edds was also wide from a great position in stoppage time as Stags clung on with Dawson appearing to escape a sending off for a second booking.
And it set Stags up nicely for Saturday's visit of Stockport County.
The night began badly as Aaron Wilbraham gave the visitors a 10th minute lead.
But Stags turned it on its head before the break and battled well in a stalemate second half, played for a long time in driving rain, with MK Dons having a Clive Platt goal disallowed for offside nine minutes from time.
Bizarrely, Stephen Dawson appeared to be shown his second yellow card of the night a minute from the end but no red followed and he was quickly substituted. At least he didn't get a third!
Stags made just one change from the side that drew 2-2 at Shrewsbury in Saturday's opener with Dawson replacing the injured Coke (ankle) in midfield. Reet had shaken off a knee injury to be named among the substitutes.
Bankhole made his first start in goal for the Dons after they had keeper Adolfe Baines sent off at the weekend while striker Wilbraham came in for central midfielder Smith.
It took Stags just 15 seconds to win a corner and another followed within that first minute which saw Barker head Hamshaw's kick at Bankole at the far post.
In the sixth minute Hamshaw's touch back to Muggleton fell short and the keeper dived bravely at the feet of Platt to prevent him capitalising. Stags quickly broke downfield and this time it was Bankole who needed to be alert, racing out his box to clear ahead of the chasing Brown.
But Dons drew first blood in the 10th minute. A long forward ball by Lewington was nodded perfectly into the path of Wilbraham by the towering Platt. And Wilbraham finished the move with a perfectly-placed finish high to the left of a rooted Muggleton who had no chance of stopping it.
Stung, the home side stepped up the pressure and Brown went close when he turned a volley over the near angle after Dawson had won the ball and sent it into the danger zone.
Dyer's pace threatened to take him clear. But John-Baptiste stuck with him superbly to drive him wide. Stags did survive one or two worrying moments, particularly a Dyer cross that flew across the face of the goal.
But the home side were level on 29 minutes. Hamshaw played the ball forward towards Dawson just inside the box. He helped into the path of Barker who crashed home an unstoppable low finish.
The home side had their tails up now and Bankole had to gather a Mullins header from Dawson's cross.
And they roared into the lead on 37 minutes. Lewington tried to help on a poor kick out by Bankole. But it went straight to Mullins who lofted it forward to Barker.
He found Brown to his right and Brown spotted the run of Boulding and crossed perfectly to give Boulding the chance to smash home a superb close range finish.
Lewington was booked on 42 minutes for a foul on Brown and Dawson joined him a minute later for hacking down McLeod as Stags went in ahead.
Barker was wide with a 30 yard free kick as Mansfield began the second half on the offensive with heavy rain beginning to sweep over Field Mill.
Dons boss Martin Allen was clearly unhappy his side had not managed to step things up and made a double change on 55 minutes as Mitchell and Dyer made way for Smith and Taylor.
Almost immediately Muggleton made a superb save and John-Baptiste a brilliant block in quick succession unaware an offside flag was already raised.
Boulding ran at the Dons defence on 63 minutes but his finish lacked any real menace and was easy for Bankole.
Smith saw a quick free kick deflect just wide as Stags were forced to defend successive corners.
Birchall offered fresh legs for Boulding on 65 minutes as Stags made their first change.
Diallo was booked for bringing down Dawson in full flight. But Hamshaw wasted the free kick by over hitting it. Then Wilbraham was cautioned for handball.
Stags had a big let-off nine minuets from time as McGovern slipped a through ball for McLeod to set up Platt for what he thought was an equaliser. But an offside flag saved Mansfield's bacon.
It was hearts in mouth stuff near the end as Mullins' leg turned aside a goal bound McLeod shot who also fired wide from a good position soon after. Edds was also wide from a great position in stoppage time as Stags clung on with Dawson appearing to escape a sending off for a second booking.
Match Stats:
Mansfield: Muggleton, Mullins, D'Laryea, Hjelde, JOhn-Baptiste, Hamshaw, Dawson(lloyd 90+1), Barker, Brown, Boulding (Birchall 65)
Subs NOt Used: White, Buxton, Reet
Goalscorers: Barker (29), Boulding (37)
Cautions: Dawson (42), Barker (58), Hamshaw (90)
MK Dons: Bankole, Lewington, Diallo, Morgan (Edds 84), McGovern, Mitchell (Smith 54), Platt, McLeod, Crooks, Wilbraham, Dyer (Taylor 54)
Subs NOt Used: O'Hanlon, Baker
Goalscorer: Wilbraham (10)
Cautions: Lewington (41), Diallo (70), Wilbraham (72), Taylor (85)
Satgs' MOM: Stephen Dawson
