Report by John Lomas
Mansfield Chad
Mansfield Chad
Mansfield Town were outgunned by the odd goal in a five goal thriller in their clash at fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley last night.
After a nightmare start when Stags gift wrapped Stanley a goal after only 25 seconds, the visitors survived Sean Whalley striking a post to fight their way into an interval lead through Barry Conlon and Stephen Dawson.
But a Michael Welch free kick levelled matters on the hour and, after Michael Boulding and Conlon had wasted great chances to grab the winner, for Mansfield, it was Whalley who drilled home the winner to make them pay with just seven minutes to go.
It was gutsy Accrington's first home win since September, although Stags played their part in a memorable end to end affair.
And after two successive away victories Stags deserved a point from this re-arranged fixture, but they now face runaway leaders Walsall in a tough test at Field Mill on Saturday.
Stags fans will be hoping for good news on Giles Coke who was stretchered off midway through the first half.
Mansfield were unchanged from the side which won 3-1 at Hereford on Saturday.
Ironically, after what happened at Accrington last month, heavy rain began to sweep down just before kick-off and continued through the half.
And Mansfield made the worst possible start as they went behind after only 25 seconds following a dreadful mix-up.
John-Baptiste and White suffered a communication breakdown and, instead of clearing into touch or laying back an easy ball for his keeper, John-Baptiste, facing his own goal, poked the ball firmly past White towards an empty net and Mullin simply raced after it to score the easiest goal he will ever get.
On six minutes Whalley sent over a free kick from the left by line which thankfully bounced through a crowded box and wide of the far post.
Mansfield fans behind the goal called for a penalty when Dawson's downward header struck Richardson on the hand but play continued.
There was more misery for Stags on 22 minutes as Coke was stretchered off after diving in to a tackle on Boco on the edge of the box to conceded a foul.
On came Brown with Dawson replacing Coke in the centre of midfield with Brown on the left and Hamshaw switching to the right.
Whalley finally hit the free kick into the wall only for the referee to order a retake and book Jelleyman for not retreating 10 yards.
At the second time of asking Whalley drilled the kick low past the wall and beat White but saw the ball rebound off the foot of the left post.
But Stags were level on 32 minutes. And again it was Conlon who struck.
Hamshaw whipped a superb free kick in from the right which Accrington couldn't clear. Brown had the first shot which was blocked but the ball fell invitingly for Conlon to bury it.
Stags broke quickly from home pressure and Conlon spun brilliantly to try to send Gritton clear and it took the close attentions of Williams to finally muscle him out.
Then an early Brown cross skidded just too far in front of Gritton in front of goal as Stags grew in stature.
But Stags swept ahead two minutes from half time as Gritton helped on a long White kick and Hamshaw delivered the perfect through ball for a delighted Dawson to slip the ball past Elliot for his first goal of the season.
Hamshaw almost gave Stags a superb start to the second half but was a foot wide with his low 20 yard free kick on 48 minutes.
Keeper Elliot beat Brown to a Conlon through ball but failed to hold on and Brown almost nicked it away from him.
But Mansfield had another let-off as Todd drilled a low ball across the face of goal with Mullin desperately close to turning it in.
However, White was beaten by a peach of a free kick on the hour.
Dawson conceded the kick left of centre outside the box. And up stepped Welch to thunder the kick high to White's left.
Gritton might have done better on 67 minutes as he beat a defender but, with Brown free to his left, chose to shoot and sent a dipping effort well over.
Edwards brought down Dawson to earn a booking but Dawson was also yellow carded for squaring up to him afterwards.
White was back in action to throw himself in the way of a low Edwards finish on 71 minutes.
Boulding replaced Gritton and missed a gilt-edged gift of a chance within five minutes after a howler by home keeper Elliot.
Under no pressure Elliot mis-kicked the ball straight to Boulding who had all the time in the world to find a way past him. But his finish was blocked by Elliot as he made amends.
Stags were almost made to pay within seconds as Stanley broke downfield and, from a tight angle, Whalley beat White and the far post.
Another golden chance went begging for the visitors on 82 minutes as Boulding's flick sent Conlon away. The keeper advanced quickly and Conlon tried the lob only to see it bounce just wide.
The inevitable happened at the other end within a minute as Whalley crashed in a low shot from 25 yards which just found its way inside White's left hand post.
Hamshaw's excellent ball found Boulding rampaging down the left. He cut inside Edwards but Elliot was down to make the save.
Hjelde replaced Jelleyman for the last three minutes.
Both Conlon and Buxton were booked for late fouls and Mullin had a stoppage time goal disallowed for offside as the night ended in misery for Mansfield.
But a Michael Welch free kick levelled matters on the hour and, after Michael Boulding and Conlon had wasted great chances to grab the winner, for Mansfield, it was Whalley who drilled home the winner to make them pay with just seven minutes to go.
It was gutsy Accrington's first home win since September, although Stags played their part in a memorable end to end affair.
And after two successive away victories Stags deserved a point from this re-arranged fixture, but they now face runaway leaders Walsall in a tough test at Field Mill on Saturday.
Stags fans will be hoping for good news on Giles Coke who was stretchered off midway through the first half.
Mansfield were unchanged from the side which won 3-1 at Hereford on Saturday.
Ironically, after what happened at Accrington last month, heavy rain began to sweep down just before kick-off and continued through the half.
And Mansfield made the worst possible start as they went behind after only 25 seconds following a dreadful mix-up.
John-Baptiste and White suffered a communication breakdown and, instead of clearing into touch or laying back an easy ball for his keeper, John-Baptiste, facing his own goal, poked the ball firmly past White towards an empty net and Mullin simply raced after it to score the easiest goal he will ever get.
On six minutes Whalley sent over a free kick from the left by line which thankfully bounced through a crowded box and wide of the far post.
Mansfield fans behind the goal called for a penalty when Dawson's downward header struck Richardson on the hand but play continued.
There was more misery for Stags on 22 minutes as Coke was stretchered off after diving in to a tackle on Boco on the edge of the box to conceded a foul.
On came Brown with Dawson replacing Coke in the centre of midfield with Brown on the left and Hamshaw switching to the right.
Whalley finally hit the free kick into the wall only for the referee to order a retake and book Jelleyman for not retreating 10 yards.
At the second time of asking Whalley drilled the kick low past the wall and beat White but saw the ball rebound off the foot of the left post.
But Stags were level on 32 minutes. And again it was Conlon who struck.
Hamshaw whipped a superb free kick in from the right which Accrington couldn't clear. Brown had the first shot which was blocked but the ball fell invitingly for Conlon to bury it.
Stags broke quickly from home pressure and Conlon spun brilliantly to try to send Gritton clear and it took the close attentions of Williams to finally muscle him out.
Then an early Brown cross skidded just too far in front of Gritton in front of goal as Stags grew in stature.
But Stags swept ahead two minutes from half time as Gritton helped on a long White kick and Hamshaw delivered the perfect through ball for a delighted Dawson to slip the ball past Elliot for his first goal of the season.
Hamshaw almost gave Stags a superb start to the second half but was a foot wide with his low 20 yard free kick on 48 minutes.
Keeper Elliot beat Brown to a Conlon through ball but failed to hold on and Brown almost nicked it away from him.
But Mansfield had another let-off as Todd drilled a low ball across the face of goal with Mullin desperately close to turning it in.
However, White was beaten by a peach of a free kick on the hour.
Dawson conceded the kick left of centre outside the box. And up stepped Welch to thunder the kick high to White's left.
Gritton might have done better on 67 minutes as he beat a defender but, with Brown free to his left, chose to shoot and sent a dipping effort well over.
Edwards brought down Dawson to earn a booking but Dawson was also yellow carded for squaring up to him afterwards.
White was back in action to throw himself in the way of a low Edwards finish on 71 minutes.
Boulding replaced Gritton and missed a gilt-edged gift of a chance within five minutes after a howler by home keeper Elliot.
Under no pressure Elliot mis-kicked the ball straight to Boulding who had all the time in the world to find a way past him. But his finish was blocked by Elliot as he made amends.
Stags were almost made to pay within seconds as Stanley broke downfield and, from a tight angle, Whalley beat White and the far post.
Another golden chance went begging for the visitors on 82 minutes as Boulding's flick sent Conlon away. The keeper advanced quickly and Conlon tried the lob only to see it bounce just wide.
The inevitable happened at the other end within a minute as Whalley crashed in a low shot from 25 yards which just found its way inside White's left hand post.
Hamshaw's excellent ball found Boulding rampaging down the left. He cut inside Edwards but Elliot was down to make the save.
Hjelde replaced Jelleyman for the last three minutes.
Both Conlon and Buxton were booked for late fouls and Mullin had a stoppage time goal disallowed for offside as the night ended in misery for Mansfield.
ACCRINGTON: Elliot, Edwards, Williamson, Welch, Richardson, Todd, Harris (McGrail 78), Boco, Whalley, Mullin, D. Brown (Proctor 78). Subs not used: Fearon, Mangan, Jacobson.
STAGS: White, Mullins, Jelleyman (Hjelde 87), D'Laryea, John-Baptiste, Hamshaw, Dawson, Buxton, Coke (S. Brown 23), Conlon, Gritton (M. Boulding 71). Subs not used: Muggleton, Lloyd.
REFEREE: Jon Moss of Yorkshire.
GOALS: Accrington - Mullin 1; Welch 60; Whalley 83. Stags - Conlon 32; Dawson 43.
CAUTIONS: Accrington - Edwards 69 (foul); Todd 79 (foul). Stags - Jelleyman 24 (failure to retreat); Dawson 69 (retaliation); Brown 76 (foul); Conlon 89 (foul); Buxton 90 (foul).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Barry Conlon.
