Mansfield Town

After scoring the opening goal against Colchester United this afternoon, lively frontman Kane Hemmings was disappointed not to secure a victory which would have moved Stags up to fourth in Sky Bet League Two.

The Stags edged the first half and took the lead in the 22^nd minute when Hemmings got on the end of a ball by ‘keeper Conrad Logan and looped an effort over Colchester shotstopper Sam Walker.

Colchester’s Brandon Comley then rescued a point for the visitors in the second half when he drilled an effort into the bottom corner.

And speaking post-match, Hemmings reiterated that Stags must convert leads into wins if they are to achieve their aim of automatic promotion out of Sky Bet League Two. 

“It’s disappointing, we had a massive opportunity,” said the on-loan Oxford United man.

 “We’ve lost ground on people again. We want to get in those automatic spots. You can’t keep drawing games, we need to start winning.

“I think we pressed them well in the first half but we didn’t really create many opportunities then in the second half, they were probably the more dominant team.

“It’s nice to get a goal but it’s irrelevant after the game. We should be winning games like that and putting teams away.

“It’s disappointing again, three out of the last three home games it’s been one each. They’re great opportunities at home, we’ve not been beaten again but we need to start winning.”

“It’s nice to get a goal but it’s irrelevant after the game. We should be winning games like that and putting teams away."

Hemmings’ goal takes his tally to ten for the season and the former Rangers forward is in good form of late, scoring two in his last three Stags appearances, a run which he hopes will continue heading into the final 10 games of the campaign.

“I want to score as many goals as possible. Hopefully there’ll be more to come.

“I just gambled. I was thinking Rosey’s (Danny Rose) going to get up there and win the flick on, he’s not but it’s still come through and I don’t think the ‘keeper’s ever really getting there.

“I just got myself in there and got the goal.”

Next up for Mansfield is a crucial local derby away at fellow-promotion chasers Notts County and Hemmings says the size of the game ‘speaks for itself’.

“We’ll go there and do our best and hopefully we get the three points.

“It’s a massive game. It speaks for it self and I’m sure we’ll have a good away following.

“We’ve already beat them once [in the league] this season so we’ll take positives from that.”

Supporters can login to iFollow Stags to view Kane Hemmings’ full post-match interview.