Physical encounter ends in narrow 2-0 defeat.
Our reserve team were unable to pick up three points as two goals by Jack McKay saw them succumb to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Doncaster Rovers.
In a tight and physical contest, the Stags had plenty of chances and should have at least got on the score-sheet.
Mansfield began the game on the front foot and enjoyed plenty of early possession with Alex Fisher doing well on his own up front, and both Anthony Dwyer and Louis Danquah offering support out wide.
Dwyer whistled a shot just wide of the target midway through the half, whilst the winger also provided a great cross into the box which was nipped away by a Donny defender, just before an advancing Fisher could get there.
Joe Fitzpatrick caused a scramble inside the Rovers’ penalty area, when his free-kick wasn’t properly cleared and both Chris Spencer and Fisher had shots blocked.
For the neutral, it was a highly exciting contest with both teams playing some decent football at a high-tempo.
Just before the break, Stags’ ‘keeper Adam Bishop made a superb diving save to keep out a shot from McKay, before the visitors responded with a chance of their own as Dwyer slipped a great ball through to an advancing Luke Hendrie, but he was foiled by Rovers’ shot-stopper Marko Marosi.
In the second half, the tempo of the game remained high, but the hosts began to press forward with more frequency. Within 10 minutes of the re-start, both Lewis Ferguson and Jonathan Margetts had fired shots just wide of the target.
On the hour mark, the Stags went close as Dwyer’s downwards header forced Marosi into a save, before Ferguson squandered a good chance for the hosts when he found himself clean through on goal.
Rovers then opened the scoring on 66 minutes when McKay found himself in a one-on-one, having latched onto a through ball, and his low shot was too much for Bishop in the Stags goal.
With just under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Mansfield were extremely unlucky not to bag an equaliser – firstly as Wes Atkinson saw a swerving drive palmed away by Marosi with Joe Bayne unable to latch onto the follow up, before Dwyer couldn’t beat the ‘keeper with a separate chance just a few minutes later.
Donny then put the game beyond doubt when McKay grabbed his second goal of the game, though the Stags can still be proud of their efforts.
Team: Bishop, Marsden (Thomson), Brownlie, Spencer, Green, Fitzpatrick (Bayne), Atkinson, Hendrie, Dwyer, Fisher, Danquah (Hempshall).
