Stags Scrap To Sink Imps

Mansfield Town fought for a well earned three points, holding on to claim a 2-1 victory at Lincoln on Saturday.

Goals from Barry Conlon (pen) and Nathan Arnold gave The Stags a two goal lead, before a late Jamie Forrester strike gave Lincoln hope.

The match started brightly, corners being forced at both ends, without any clear-cut chances being created. Jonathan D’Laryea scuffed a shot from a decent position at one end, while Ryan Amoo saw his shot fly over at the other.

Mansfield were awarded a penalty by referee David Foster a quarter of an hour in. Simon Brown robbed Imps defender Lee Beevers, and as he raced into the box, Beevers was adjudged to have pulled at the shirt of the Mansfield forward. Barry Conlon stepped up, to coolly slot his spot-kick down the centre of the goal.

Jeff Hughes’ jinking run resulted in a flashed shot wide shortly afterwards, but after that Mansfield were in the ascendency, and took control of a poor Lincoln side throughout the first half. Despite this however, the score remained at just a one goal lead going into the break.

The sucker punch came just five minutes into the second half, as Mansfield hit their hosts on the counter, and went into a two-nil lead. After another poor delivery from a home side set piece, which had become the flavour of the day, Brown broke clear once again, and squared a cross into the path of Arnold, who made no mistake with the finish.

Little more had been created before Lincoln appeared to have put the game beyond doubt for their visitors, as Beevers, already booked from the penalty incident, was given his marching orders for a late lunge on the lively Arnold. Beevers had no complaints, as The Stags’ forward was potentially in a goal-scoring position when brought down in any case.

Lincoln tried to get a foot-hold in the game and were given a life-line by top scorer Jamie Forrester, after the veteran goal-grabber turned home Owain Warlow’s cross, 16 minutes from time.

Imps substitute Spencer Weir-Daley looked promising once brought on, but couldn’t turn anything he created into substance, as the Mansfield back-line held firm. A great rear-guard action, combined with a solid midfield display and an energetic front-line proving the back-bone to a deserved three points for The Stags, infront of an away following of 1,040.

Report By Benjamin Haynes-Greenwood.

Player Ratings

Jason White
7

Johnny Mullins
7

Gareth Jelleyman
7

Jonathan D’Laryea
8

Alex John-Baptiste
9. Faultless display, held the back-line together, a close second to Arnold for MoM.

Jake Buxton
7

Nathan Arnold
9. Man of the match, details above.

Stephen Dawson
7

Barry Conlon
7

Simon Brown
8

Bryan Hodge
7

Matthew Hamshaw
Nice to have him back.

Mickey Boulding
no time
no time