Tom Beck reports from Field Mill
Striker Rob Duffy bagged his second career hat-trick as Mansfield Town secured a deserved 3-1 victory against Hayes and Yeading at Field Mill this afternoon.
In a match involving three penalties, the Stags took their chances after some poor defending from Hayes & Yeading on several occasions.
With David Holdsworth fielding the same team that faced Oxford United in mid-week, Mansfield took time to get in the game. However, with only 5 minutes gone on the clock, the Stags had one of their best chances of the half. Kyle Nix floated a ball into the opposition box which was met by the head of Rob Duffy before the stretching Hayes goalkeeper, Simon Overland, but the ball agonisingly dropped wide of the post.
Both teams were finding it hard to get a foot on the ball and keep possession; it was Hayes who looked the more likely of the two sides to grab the first goal with several half chances.
One of Hayes' best chances of the half came in the 18th minute where some great play on the left wing by Toby Little set up Sean Canham who crossed towards the back post but the high ball glanced off the head of the leaping George Daly.
Midway through the first half, Mansfield had a free kick 45 yards out lifted into the box but cleared by the Hayes' defence. The ball returning back into the box was then met on the volley by, the early substitution, Steven Istead, but he blazed high and wide from a tight angle.
On the 34th minute, Mansfield had a goal disallowed. Out of nowhere on the left wing, Williams beautifully lifted a ball towards the near side of the box where it was met by the perfectly timed run of Jake Speight and headed, near-post, into the back of the net. Unfortunately the linesman flagged for offside and the goal was unfairly ruled out.
Mansfield did not have to wait long for another chance.
After a brilliant passing move from the Stags, the ball fell to Louis Briscoe on the right wing who delivered a cross towards the near-post. Overland judged the flight of the ball badly and parried the ball straight to the feet of the dominant striker, Rob Duffy, who tapped in from inside the 6 yard box.
The second half started with a penalty early in the 48th minute. Jake Speight worked his way into the box and was dragged down by a blue shirt. Duffy strolled up to the penalty spot and showed his composure by nonchalantly placing his shot into the bottom right hand corner and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
55 minutes played and Levi Porter was brought on for Louis Briscoe for his second appearance for the club.
Disaster struck moments later as a mistake between Luke Graham and Alan Marriott allowed George Daly to gather the ball at the by-line before being brought down by the Stags goalkeeper. Sean Canham stepped up and slotted it into the right hand side of the net.
Incredibly, straight from the kick off, a ball down the left was then crossed over by Williams and the ball struck the outstretched hand of the Hayes centre back, Tom Cadmore. Duffy walked up to the spot again and calmly slotted the ball into the opposite corner of the net and again, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and confirming his brilliant hat-trick and 8th goal of the season.
The game was all but over, when Marriott pulled off two superb saves. A cross from the left by Hayes' Scott Fitzgerald was met by the head of Canham who, from 6 yards out, headed towards the back post, only to see Marriott leaping, full stretched, and sending the ball out for a corner.
Moments later, a dragged shot met the feet of James Mulley, 8 yards out, but Marriott somehow managed to smother the midfielder's shot and deflect it out for a corner. These were two match saving saves and showed the Mansfield goalkeepers quality.
Mansfield will be pleased with the result and the marvellous hat-trick from their dominant leading goal scorer, Rob Duffy in a match of three scored penalties.
