Dan Branowsky reports from Field Mill
Mansfield Town moved to fourth position in the Blue Square Bet Premier after a battling 1-0 victory over Cambridge United.
Keigan Parker struck on around the hour mark from the penalty spot after James Jennings was sent off for handball. The goal brought a sense of justice as a strong penalty claim in the first half went unnoticed by the referee.
The Stags fielded virtually the same team which earned a point on Tuesday night against Kettering, with only Keigan Parker back into the starting line up with Luke Medley dropping to the bench.Cambridge made one change, James Jennings coming into defence.
Cambridge have had a poor start to the season and would have been looking to make amends at Field Mill today.Ex Stag Daryl Clare started on the bench for the U's and Rob Duffy and Paul Connor have both had spells for the U's.
Opening exchanges were fairly even and Mansfield were awarded a free kick in the 5th minute but Sandwith's effort flew just over the crossbar.
Both teams started showing a clear purpose and it was anybody's guess who would return the victor. The best move of the game so far, fell to Louis Briscoe after a delightful ball from Keigan Parker found him on the edge of the box but his shot was curled just wide. Shortly after, Connor headed onto the outside of the post from a tight angle after a great searching ball by Chris Smith on the left touchline.
The referee became unpopular with the Cambridge fans in the 13th minute when he held play back and awarded Cambridge a free kick when Danny Wright seemed to be in a decent goal scoring position. Robbie Wilmot's resulting effort was hit well but comfortably saved by Marriott.
Cambridge consistently tried to catch Mansfield out on the break and if it wasn't for Sandwiths brave block in the 17th minute, the U's could have gained an early advantage.
Adam Smith, who had a quiet start to the game curled in a dangerous ball across the box in the 23rd minute which Mills at the back post dived towards, but clashed nastily with the post and was out of play for a number of minutes.
It was Mansfield who looked the most dangerous as the half went on, but a lack of creativity led to very few chances being created in the final third.
As the half drew to a close the tackles started flying in and to the dismay of the Mansfield fans a number of tough challenges by the Cambridge team went un-punished.
Controversy struck in the 40th minute when Mansfield had a huge shout for a penalty. Smith played a ball over the top which found Keigan Parker, who after tussling with Coulson was hacked down right in front of goal. Huge cries for a penalty were ringing out by the Stags faithful and rightly so.
As the half time whistle was blown, David Holdsworth went straight to the referee to discuss that penalty claim and referee Darren Bond was booed from the pitch by the Mansfield fans.
The first half started brightly for Mansfield, Adam Smith combining with Sandwith on the right wing whose low ball went right across the Cambridge box but Briscoe's shot was scuffed and ballooned into the air. Mansfield continued to press and shortly after Adam Smith found a yard of space on the edge of the Cambridge box and hit a powerful swerving shot that Brown dealt with efficiently.
Adam Smith began to get more involved in the game and good play on the right hand side resulted in a ball which Connor headed over.
A travelling support of 307 were in full voice throughout the game and they did their best to spur on the U's but Cambridge rarely threatened and their only effort of the half came from right back Russell, whose long range effort was hit wide of the post
Justice was finally served in the 62nd minute when James Jennings was sent off for handball in the area and the Stags were awarded a deserved penalty. Keigan Parker combined with Kevin Sandwith who made an overlapping run before floating the ball into the area where Jennings handled the ball.
Keigan Parker cooley floated the ball into the back of the net sending Brown the wrong way, sending the Stags into pandemonium.
Cambridge boss, Martin Ling tried shaking things up to try and get an equaliser by bringing on ex Mansfield striker Daryl Clare for Robbie Willmott. Goal hero Parker was taken off for the 12th Stag and already crowd favourite, Luke Medley.
Frustration appeared to be setting in for the Cambridge players and despite enjoying a decent amount of possession, a lack of ideas and final product prevented them from carving out any real chances.
With only 11 minutes left a deep Cambridge free kick managed to escape the efforts of every Mansfield player and connected with a rather surprised Saah, whose volley flew just wide. It was a moment of real anxiety for the fans, desperate to not get pegged back.
Substitute, Kyle Nix showed a moment of magic with 8 minutes to go taking the ball past Russell and Ives on the left wing, before crossing the ball into the keeper's hands. A few moments later, Medley seemed to be in the clear after more good work from Nix but was called offside.
4 minutes of added time were awarded by the officials, which could have set up a tense final few minutes for the Stags, but the one man advantage was telling as it was Mansfield who ended the game more positively.
Super sub Luke Medley impressed again, showing off his power and pace on a number of occasions in the short time he was on the pitch. He used his talent to break through the defence with only a few minutes left on the clock but his shot was saved by the keeper.
Cheers went up all around the ground as the referee blew the final whistle, a hard fought victory for the Stags.
