Blackpool 3-3 Mansfield Town (EFL League One) 15.02.25

Mansfield Town ended their seven-match losing streak on Saturday when taking part in a six-goal thriller at Bloomfield Road, home of Blackpool.

The trip to seaside, for Nigel Clough’s Stags, came as they were enduring a horrible losing streak, whilst their mid-table hosts, they were unbeaten in their previous eight outings this year, including six draws.

Sonny Carey lit the blue-touch paper as the contest came to life midway through the first half having been played in by Rob Apter down the right-hand side, Carey firing past Christy Pym at the far post.

It took five minutes for the Stags to equalise, and another five for them to take the lead, moving 2-1 ahead just inside half an hour; January signing, Caylan Vickers, had a hand in the equaliser, his lofted pass breaching the hosts’ backline and landing on the head of Stags striker, Will Evans, nodding past Harry Tyrer in the home goal.

Five minutes later and Clough’s side led, Keanu Baccus charging through and firing, from range, past Tyrer, the visitors going into the break with a one-goal lead.

Both sides had chances in the second period, Vickers himself coming close but his effort clipped just wide of Tyrer’s goal, whilst Hayden Coulson struck Pym’s side-netting at the other end.

Shortly after the hour mark and the Stags opened up a two-goal advantage, and seemingly cruising towards a much-needed, three points, Baccus this time turning proving following a quick, slick move across the Blackpool box which finished with Lucas Akins netting.

Then came the hosts’ comeback.

A devastating, ten-minute spell for the visitors, just inside the final twenty minutes, saw the hosts come from 3-1 down, to level proceedings, with thirteen to go.

First Ashley Fletcher pulled the contest back to 3-2 when netting from close-range, and six minutes later, they were level when a ball in from Lee Evans saw Niall Ennis get the final touch when poking the leveller past Pym.

The result was just Mansfield’s fifth draw of a now, slightly laboured, season, one which, although promised much early on, now sees them languishing in fifteenth place, ten points above the drop-zone – although they are also just a dozen points off sixth, the final play-off spot.

Nigel Clough’s side will now look for maximum points from their next two outings, both at home, when they welcome thirteenth place Lincoln City, and third place Wrexham, to the One Call Stadium, on 18 and 23 February, respectively.

Stags: Christy Pym, George Williams (Aden Flint, 80), Elliott Hewitt, Baily Cargill, Lucas Akins, Keanu Baccus, Louis Reed, Stephen McLaughlin (Callum McDonald, 72), George Maris (Hiram Boateng, 80), Will Evans (Jordan Bowery, 82), Caylan Vickers (Ben Waine, 82)

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @mansfieldtownfc an entertaining draw that stops a losing rot.