Colchester United 1-1 Mansfield Town (EFL League Two) 16.09.2023

Mansfield Town continued their unbeaten start to the season on Saturday afternoon, but were made to wait until the last minute, away to Colchester United, before Davis Keillor-Dunn snatched the all-important equaliser.

The run, it now stands at ten matches since the start of the season (won four, drawn six) as the Stags find themselves sitting fifth in the league table, on fourteen points, a point behind the joint-third pairing of Swindon Town, and recently-promoted Wrexham.

They were made to work for that point though, and it’ll certainly go down as such despite both Louis Reed, and James Gale, having early chances for the visitors as the former saw his effort fly over, and the latter denied by home shot-stopper, Owen Goodman.

Christy Pym, in the visiting goal, was also busy at the other end, he twice denying Joe Taylor in a matter of minutes before the Colchester man found the back of the net at the third time of asking.

The hosts took the lead on the half hour, one in which they held to the death, a through-ball from Arthur Read was perfect for the attacking Taylor, and he got on the end of the ball who fired past Pym to open the scoring.

On the hunt for a second, Colchester looked to extend their slender advantage in the latter stages of the first period as both Zach Mittchell and Samson Tovide had chances, to no avail whilst early in the second, Keillor-Dunn had a brace of opportunities only for Goodman to place well and hold on to the first, and the second was headed over after the Stags marksman was left unmarked in the box.

John Akinde could have put the result beyond doubt in the closing stages however, his goal-bound, headed effort, was nodded off the line by the well-placed Aaron Lewis, to the relief of the visitors who finally got their rewards late on.

Davis Keillor-Dunn, who netted seven in eighteen outings following his arrival at Mansfield back in January (second half of last season), took his tally to seven already this season when he slammed home from close range, in the last minute, to earn a share of the spoils.

Patient build-up play on the Stags right finally saw a long-ball from Brunt is headed back across the box by Flint and into the path of Keillor-Dunn, he taking great delight to fire a left-footed effort beyond Goodman, with seconds of the ninety remaining.

Next up for Nigel Clough’s side, as they look to break into the top three, is back-to-back home games as they first welcome Barrow, on 23 September, following by their Carabao Cup clash with Peterborough United three days later (26 September).

Stags: Christy Pym, Jordan Bowery (Baily Cargill 61), Aden Flint, Lewis Brunt, Calum Macdonald (George Williams 81), Aaron Lewis, Louis Reed, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Hiram Boateng (Ollie Clarke 71), Lucas Akins (Callum Johnson 60), James Gale (Will Swan 45).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc Mansfield are still unbeaten in the league.