Stockport County 1-1 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 18.03.23

Nigel Clough and his Mansfield Town charges left Edgeley Park on Saturday night with their promotion aspirations still in their own hands, battling to a hard-earned point against fellow promotion-chasers, Stockport County.

The Stags, they’ve been a little erratic of late, but this was to be a smash-and-grab point which kept them in the hunt for the play-offs, as, with games in hand on those around them in the EFL League Two play-off hunt, just a dozen points split second place Stevenage, and ninth place Sutton United.

Prior to the game, and returning to the starting line-up following a spell on the side-lines, the Stags announced that defender, Elliott Hewitt, had signed an extension to his contract, keeping him at the club until 2025; however, it would be the hosts who’d start the stronger of the two.

Will Collar, prominent throughout the encounter, had back-to-back chances for the hosts in the opening exchanges, whilst Stags captain, Ollie Clarke, would see his right-footed effort, just before the quarter-hour mark, blocked.

Visiting shot-stopper, Christy Pym, was called into action again after twenty minutes, saving a goal-bound, headed effort, from Neill Byrne, the hosts racking up the chances prior to taking the lead on the half hour.

Akil Wright would be seen to supply the cross which was met by the head of Paddy Madden, he nodding home in the middle of goal for the opener; that would be the only goal of the first half, although the visiting Stags came close to equalising on the stroke of half-time when, following a Clarke corner, Kieran Wallace headed wide.

As with the first, the hosts would have the first opportunity of the second as well, Chris Hussey seeing his effort saved well by the diving Pym, before Wright nodded wide minutes later.

Stags boss, Clough, threw caution to the wind when bringing on Rhys Oates just before the hour mark, he coming on just before Alfie Kilgour sees his header fly wide of goal, before Hiram Boateng, and Oates, missed opportunities for the equaliser.

Both sides continued to create chances as the game wore on, Kyle Wooten seeing his header blocked for the hosts, before Clarke, from a narrow angle, fired wide for the Stags, with ten minutes remaining.

Then, with the game heading towards what was seven minutes of stoppage time, the Stags pulled off a smash-and-grab when Hewitt, celebrating his new contract with the club, supplied the final ball for Akins to head home a 93 minute equaliser, high into the hosts’ net.

It was a goal which kept the Stags eighth in the table, three points off the fourth play-off side, Salford, and ten off third place Northampton Town – next up for Clough’s charges, back-to-back home games over the coming week with Grimsby Town visiting on Wednesday (22 March) night, and Sutton United (ninth), making the trip to Nottinghamshire this coming Saturday (25 March).

Mansfield Town: Christy Pym, Elliott Hewitt, Riley Harbottle (James Gale 89), Alfie Kilgour, James Perch (Rhys Oates 58), Jordan Bowery, Ollie Clarke, Kieran Wallace, Hiram Boateng (Jason Law 89), Davis Keillor-Dunn, Lucas Akins.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc the Mansfield players applaud their supporters at Edgeley Park.