Mansfield Town recorded an important 2-0 victory over Stevenage at One Call Stadium to consolidate their position inside the Sky Bet League Two play-off places.
The Stags have now recorded 13 victories in their last 14 home league encounters.
George Lapslie’s 51st minute strike and Matty Longstaff’s controlled stoppage time notch helped Mansfield to their second consecutive league win.
The Stags currently sit fifth in Sky Bet League Two, just a point behind third placed Northampton Town with two games to play.
Manager Nigel Clough named one change to the team that comfortably defeated Crawley Town 2-0 at One Call Stadium on Saturday. Midfielder Stephen Quinn missed the fixture through injury and was replaced by Lapslie in the line-up.
After an evenly contested opening, George Maris lined one up from distance on 14 minutes. Having been fed the ball by left winger Jamie Murphy, the midfielder powerfully whipped the ball over the crossbar from 26-yards.
Mansfield looked to work the ball in the following period, however it was Stevenage who posed a threat in the final third on 23 minutes. After winger Michael Bostwick drove the ball up the left wing, Stags defender Stephen McLaughlin was on hand to head his dangerous cross clear from inside the six-yard box, with Jamie Reid poised in front of goal.
Luke Norris tried again for the visitors on 36 minutes. After the forward worked his way inside from the right wing, the Stevenage man drilled a low shot across goal only to be denied by Nathan Bishop’s superb fingertip save.
Mansfield dictated 57% of the first-half possession but the score remained goalless at the break.
The Stags restarted the game brightly after Elliott Hewitt’s long throw into the box was knocked down to Maris, who curled an effort from the edge of the box narrowly wide of the bottom left corner with his instep on 46 minutes.
Mansfield continued their charge as Matty Longstaff stroked a precise through-ball to play Murphy down the left. And the Scotsman gathered to win a corner after his shot was blocked.
The subsequent flag-kick floated into the Stevenage box before being cleared to George Lapslie by a visiting defender.
The Stags midfielder controlled the ball, nudged it onto his left foot and guided it calmly into the bottom left corner with composure on 51 minutes.
Lapslie’s goal ignited Mansfield’s attacking urgency and they were in again three minutes later. Murphy drove the ball through the midfield with a winding run to link up with Akins who, just inside the box, flashed a powerful effort wide of the post on the turn.
The Stags looked to control the game in the following period, shutting out their opposition whilst working the ball amongst amber shirts.
Mansfield remained a threat in the final third whilst protecting their lead and Jamie Murphy stung the palms of Christy Pym on 86 minutes with a curled effort from the left of the box.
The Stags tightened their grip on the closing stages superbly by knocking the ball around the visiting half with confidence.
After substitute Jordan Bowery drifted into space on the left wing to receive the ball, he quickly fed it into Longstaff inside the box during the third minute of stoppage time. The youngster collected to turn and stroke it skilfully into the bottom left corner to wrap up the contest.
Mansfield will next face Salford City in Greater Manchester on Monday as they look to continue their push for promotion.
STAGS XI: Bishop, Hewitt, O‘Toole, Perch, McLaughlin, Maris (Wallace 72’), Longstaff, Lapslie, Murphy (Bowery 90+1’), Oates (Hawkins 88’), Akins
UNUSED SUBS: Stech, Rawson, Stirk, Johnson
STEVENAGE XI: Pym, Wildin, Coker, Cuthbert, List (Andrade 72’), Taylor, Norris (Daly 50’), Vancooten, Read (Lines 60’), Reid, Bostwick
UNUSED SUBS: Walker, Prosser, Upson, Barry
REFEREE: Christopher Sarginson
ATTENDANCE: 5,086 (73 away supporters)
